Johannesburg, South Africa
Residents of Wemmer East are currently enduring power outages after the theft of a three-meter-long power cable disrupted electricity supply in the area. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning, leaving households and businesses in the Central Substation area without power.
City Power confirmed that repair teams were dispatched to the site immediately after the issue was reported. The utility company issued an apology to affected residents, assuring them that the repairs were progressing steadily.
“While we are unable to provide an exact time for restoration, our teams are working around the clock to minimize disruption,” City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said in an official statement.
The outage has left dozens of businesses and hundreds of households in Wemmer East without power, with residents raising concerns about the economic and safety implications of the prolonged outage.
“We rely on electricity for our shop’s refrigeration system, and this has cost us an entire day’s business,” said Tumi Mashele, a local shop owner. Others voiced concerns over safety, as cable theft often leaves exposed wires that could pose hazards to the community.
Cable theft remains a significant challenge in Johannesburg, disrupting essential services such as power and transportation. According to recent data from City Power, there were over 200 reported incidents of cable theft in the past year, costing the utility millions of rands in repairs and revenue losses.
City Power is collaborating with law enforcement agencies to address the issue and has urged residents to report suspicious activities. “Our partnership with the South African Police Service has already led to several arrests, and we encourage communities to remain vigilant,” added Mangena.
City Power has encouraged affected residents to take the following steps:
- Report outages or suspected cable theft by calling City Power’s 24-hour hotline at 0860 562 874.
- Use alternative power sources safely, such as generators, while repairs are underway.
- Stay informed about updates by following City Power’s official social media pages and website.
While repairs are still underway, City Power expects electricity to be restored to Wemmer East by late Thursday evening, barring any unforeseen delays. Further updates will be provided through their official communication channels.
City Power has reiterated its commitment to restoring electricity as quickly as possible while working on long-term measures to combat cable theft. Residents are advised to stay alert and report any suspicious activity to ensure the safety and stability of the community’s power infrastructure.
For real-time updates, visit City Power’s website at www.citypower.co.za or follow them on social media.
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