News Article

LOAD REDUCTION MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN KWANOBUHLE PROGRESSING WELL

Published: October 10, 2024

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The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) wishes to inform residents of KwaNobuhle that extensive electricity work currently underway to mitigate ongoing electricity supply challenges in the area is nearing completion. Since June 2024, the Metro has had to implement load reduction in wards 42, 43, and 44 due to persistent overloading of transformers, predominantly caused by illegal electrical connections within the area. The MRM8 feeder, which specifically supplies electricity to wards 42, 43, and 44, has been consistently overloaded. 

This issue was largely attributed to increased electricity consumption during the winter season, worsened by illegal connections. The added strain on the system has led to frequent disruptions in power supply. NMBM Electricity and Energy Mayoral Committee Member, Cllr Zanele Sikawuti, stated that as a short-term solution to the challenge, a comprehensive technical assessment was conducted, and a plan has been developed to de-load the MRM8 feeder by splitting the existing underground cables and creating two separate feeders.

"Work is already underway. This arrangement will effectively distribute the electrical load across wards 42, 43, and 44, improving the stability and reliability of the supply. Additionally, the energisation of the Rockland feeder will help relieve the strain on MRM8. This reconfiguration aims to reduce the frequency of equipment failure and overloading, although illegal connections remain a critical issue that could still jeopardise the system’s integrity. The target completion date for this de-loading project is 18 October 2024,” MMC Sikawuti said. 

In addition to the de-loading work underway, the Metro is reinstalling streetlights targeting KwaNobuhle’s strategic roads. This is in response to the vandalism of municipal infrastructure across the Metro, including in KwaNobuhle and KwaLanga. "The streetlighting infrastructure in KwaNobuhle and KwaLanga has been severely compromised due to vandalism, resulting in non-operational streetlights throughout key roads in the area. To address this, our Kariega depot maintenance team is currently focusing on streetlight repairs along Ponana Tini Road, Mabandla Street, Matanzima Street, Lawrence Vinqi Road, and Mbengo Road. This maintenance work is expected to be completed by 18 October 2024. A subsequent streetlight reinstallation project commenced on 1 September 2024, targeting KwaNobuhle’s strategic roads. This reinstallation will run until 18 October 2024 and aims to restore proper lighting in critical areas, thereby improving safety, visibility, and overall quality of life for residents,” the MMC added.

The NMBM is committed to fostering community awareness and engagement throughout this process. Regular updates and information will continue to be provided to the relevant ward councillors and on all NMBM social media platforms to keep residents informed about the progress of the electricity work and the importance of legal electricity connections. Community meetings will also be organised with the relevant residents as and when required. "We believe that community involvement is crucial for the success of these initiatives. By working together, we can ensure a more stable and reliable electricity supply for everyone. We urge residents to attend the sessions when requested to do so and actively participate in the discussions,” said MMC Sikawuti.

The Metro pleads for patience from residents while all this work continues and urges residents to refrain from stealing electricity and vandalism as it compromises stable power supply. The power outage affecting MRM8 and Ponana Tini power supply is scheduled as follows: • 09 October 2024, from 08:00 – 18:00 • The alternative date is 10 October 2024, from 08:00 – 18:00



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