Illegal mining set to collapse Roodepoort substations: City Power
Frustrated Roodepoort residents took to the streets earlier this week to protest against prolonged power outages in the area, west of Johannesburg.
The protests prompted officials, including the city’s MMC for Infrastructure Jack Sekwaila and senior City Power staff, to conduct an oversight visit on Thursday.
Sekwaila said the illegal mining activities in the area has led to visible ground, structural cracks and holes around the substations.
"We would like to reiterate our call to law enforcement agencies to intensify the fight against the zama-zamas, who have not only destroyed our infrastructure, but also steal and vandalise City Power property.
"We should by all means, avoid any disaster that could happen here due to the zama-zama activities.”
City Power’s Isaac Mangena said that some of the miners were spotted digging outside the Roodepoort substation, threatening the integrity of the surface floor and the pylons along the servitude run.
“We are extremely concerned about the illegal mining practices. There’s a huge threat should the electricity infrastructure collapse or cave in."
Mangena also said they are in the process of conducting a geotechnical study around the Roodepoort area, where critical electricity infrastructure is at the risk of collapsing.
“This is to determine whether the structural integrity of the two Substations that are sitting right next to illegal mining activities, are still intact, or whether an alternative solution needs to be sought.”
Last year the same substation was vandalised by suspected illegal miners, who cut through the fence at the back and side to gain entry.
They then ripped off 24 copper cables from at least three transformers, stripped off some copper earth conductors, and vandalised most of the substation.
Damage to the substation was estimated at R3.5 million.
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