A METRO electricity supply station that provides power to 4800 households in Mdantsane has been left badly damaged after it was vandalised on Sunday.
As a result about 30000 residents in NU3, 5, 6 and 7 have been left without power.
The station, also known as the Central Injection Electrical Substation, is situated in NU6 and belongs to the Buffalo City Metro.
It was torched on Sunday morning by a group of unidentified vandals who forcibly gained entry into the property on which the substation is situated.
Mdantsane police are investigating a case of malicious damage to property and no arrests have been made at this stage.
Nearby residents told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that they had heard a loud explosion from the substation on Sunday morning just seconds before the power went out.
BCM described the incident as “vandalism and sabotage”.
Spokesman Keith Ngesi said early estimates of the damage caused was about R2.5-million. However, he said if a 66000 volt transformer needed to be replaced total damages could reach R6-million.
Ngesi said the perpetrators gained entry by removing a concrete slab from the perimeter fence. They then proceeded to damage a radio transmitter and video cameras.
He said the suspects then caused damage to every piece of equipment they could lay their hands on using burning tyres and petrol.
Ngesi said vandalised equipment included a 11000 volt switch, supply equipment, battery bank, water pump and waste water pipes.
The suspects also ripped the wiring from a mechanism box and damaged battery chargers.
Ngesi said nothing was stolen.
“A massive clean-up and repair operation is underway. At this time the estimated time to re-energise all BCMM consumers affected by this criminal act is Thursday.
“If the main transformer is permanently damaged the estimated date of restoring power will be severely delayed,” said Ngesi.
He warned residents to treat all apparatus as live as electricity could be restored at any time.
Frustrated residents vented their anger saying the metro would have acted faster had the substation been located in a suburb.
Abigail Nokoyo of NU5 said: “Just this morning I threw away my meat because it was starting to rot in the fridge. I still have to spend money on buying new school uniform for my children.”
Dini Ali, a spaza shop owner in NU7, said he had stopped selling anything that required refrigeration. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Vandals hit 4 800 homes
As a result about 30000 residents in NU3, 5, 6 and 7 have been left without power.
The station, also known as the Central Injection Electrical Substation, is situated in NU6 and belongs to the Buffalo City Metro.
It was torched on Sunday morning by a group of unidentified vandals who forcibly gained entry into the property on which the substation is situated.
Mdantsane police are investigating a case of malicious damage to property and no arrests have been made at this stage.
Nearby residents told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that they had heard a loud explosion from the substation on Sunday morning just seconds before the power went out.
BCM described the incident as “vandalism and sabotage”.
Spokesman Keith Ngesi said early estimates of the damage caused was about R2.5-million. However, he said if a 66000 volt transformer needed to be replaced total damages could reach R6-million.
Ngesi said the perpetrators gained entry by removing a concrete slab from the perimeter fence. They then proceeded to damage a radio transmitter and video cameras.
He said the suspects then caused damage to every piece of equipment they could lay their hands on using burning tyres and petrol.
Ngesi said vandalised equipment included a 11000 volt switch, supply equipment, battery bank, water pump and waste water pipes.
The suspects also ripped the wiring from a mechanism box and damaged battery chargers.
Ngesi said nothing was stolen.
“A massive clean-up and repair operation is underway. At this time the estimated time to re-energise all BCMM consumers affected by this criminal act is Thursday.
“If the main transformer is permanently damaged the estimated date of restoring power will be severely delayed,” said Ngesi.
He warned residents to treat all apparatus as live as electricity could be restored at any time.
Frustrated residents vented their anger saying the metro would have acted faster had the substation been located in a suburb.
Abigail Nokoyo of NU5 said: “Just this morning I threw away my meat because it was starting to rot in the fridge. I still have to spend money on buying new school uniform for my children.”
Dini Ali, a spaza shop owner in NU7, said he had stopped selling anything that required refrigeration. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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