Eskom illegal connections

Image via Twitter / Eskom

Eskom withdraws from Marlboro due to alleged criminal activity [photos]

Eskom also warned that interfering with or vandalising Eskom property can lead to arrest, injury or death of perpetrators and innocent victims.

Eskom illegal connections

Image via Twitter / Eskom

Eskom said in a statement on Thursday 16 July that it would be withdrawing from certain areas around Marlboro “due to armed criminals” posing a threat. Here’s what we know.

Eskom withdraws from Marlboro

The power utility explained that armed criminals “are illegally operating our network” on 3rd, 4th and 5th streets in Marlboro. According to Eskom, it poses a threat to employees. The matter since been reported to the authorities.

“We have temporarily withdrawn services from Malboro’s 3rd, 4th & 5th streets due to armed criminals who are illegally operating on our network and posing a threat to our employees. The matter has been reported to the police. The inconvenience caused is regretted.”

Eskom also warned that interfering with or vandalising Eskom property can lead to arrest, injury or death of perpetrators and innocent victims. Vandalism and other criminal activities can be reported on 08600 37566 (ESKOM) on CrimeLine 0800 11 27 22 (toll-free) or via SMS to 32211 (R1/SMS).

Power outages and transformer failures

Illegal connections were also noted as the cause of power outages, as well as jumper and transformer failures, in Madadeni, Newcastle, Mabhodla, Esikhawini, and Mtubatuba in Richards Bay.

As per a statement released on Thursday, the issues resulted from strain placed on the grid due to illegal connections. Maintenance teams were dispatched and Eskom called on residents to treat all installations as live.

“Customers are urged to switch off appliances during outages to avoid surges. Failure to do so overloads the network and may trip transformers and mini-substations when the power is restored.”

Vandalism of Eskom substation in North West

This follows after Eskom on 11 July warned of power cuts in the North West due to vandalism of the province’s Shylock substation. This, in turn, led to loss of distribution power lines, “which had led to supply interruptions”.

Koster, Swartruggens and some of the surrounding areas were affected, and Eskom managed to restore power by 19:00 on Saturday evening, 11 July.

Load shedding update

Eskom informed the public that it would be suspending load shedding from 22:00 on Thursday evening after four generation units were successfully returned to service. Eskom explained:

“These generation units returned more than 1 500MW capacity to the system. This took total generation capacity returned to the system since 10 July to more than 3 500MW. Available capacity has risen to more than 34 000MW, the highest so far this year.”

While our embattled power utility managed to replenish emergency reserves, residents are urged to “continue reducing the usage of heating appliances, geyser and other appliances as the system remains unpredictable and unreliable”.

Read more here: Load shedding will come to end on Thursday