WATCH: Sabotage suspected in Eikenhof substation fire
We therefore cannot allow criminals to visit wanton acts of crime on City infrastructure.
City Power officials suspect that the fire at the Eikenhof Substation on Monday, 27 August may have been the result of a deliberate act of sabotage.
According to City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, a video has emerged which proves that the fire originated outside the transformer at the substation. Further to this, the transformer appeared to have been maliciously damaged so that it would leak oil onto the fire. These facts are simply not consistent with a fire originating from an electrical fault.
Read more here:
https://roodepoortrecord.co.za/2018/08/29/eikenhof-substation-is-back-on/
Mashaba stated that, “Evidence of this [arson] can be seen here. I have requested that City Power immediately refer this matter to the City’s Group Forensics and Investigation Services and the Police for further investigation.
“This administration stands for the rule of law and for ensuring that all our infrastructure is effectively utilised for the benefit our residents. We therefore cannot allow criminals to visit wanton acts of crime on City infrastructure.”
The substation provides electricity to large surrounding areas, both residential and business-oriented, and powers the Rand Water facility in the vicinity. The Rand Water infrastructure powered by this substation, pumps water to approximately 40 per cent of Johannesburg, as well as parts of the West Rand, including Roodepoort, and also Rustenberg.
“To alleviate the situation, a newly refurbished transformer has been brought in and has been tested. It is estimated the repairs on the residential lines should be done by 6pm on Wednesday evening. At the same time, power should return to Rand Water pumps and all affected areas should be fully restored within the next 24 hours,” Mashaba added.
City Power engineers and technicians have worked throughout the night to repair the substation.
He concluded by stating, “I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the technicians for their continued work in effecting the needed repairs with the urgency they have achieved for our residents.
“I will be ensuring that the City, working with law enforcement agencies and the NPA, brings the perpetrators of this act to justice in the harshest possible manner. When key infrastructure of this nature is vandalised, it is a crime against the people of our City, our economy and our security.”
Here is the video:
https://www.facebook.com/MayorHermanMashaba/videos/227872237905660/?t=0
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