DELMAS — A faulty transformer has led to prolonged power outages that have persisted for nearly a month in Botleng Extension 6.
Despite repeated attempts to report the issue, the continued outage continues to disrupt daily life. Videos shared with Highveld Chronicle show malfunctioning transformers and widespread power failures across the community.
Frustrated residents say the situation has become unbearable, with no lasting solution in sight. According to the community, attempts to obtain clarity from municipal authorities have been met with delays and unfulfilled promises, as they continue to wait for the ward councillor to respond after promising to seek answers. To date, no definitive feedback has been provided. Efforts to get comment from senior municipal officials, including the political principals, were also unsuccessful.
Residents interviewed by the publication attributed the recurring transformer failures to poor installation and the use of low-quality equipment by contractors. The outages often occur during critical hours, particularly in the evenings, disrupting meal preparation, damaging household appliances, and generally making life difficult.
“We have to throw away food because the fridge switches off without warning,” said one resident. Another expressed concern about costly appliance repairs, pointing to a malfunctioning refrigerator as an example of the consequences of unreliable electricity supply.
The crisis is particularly severe in Delmas Extension 6 and parts of the N12 near the Exxaro built houses, where residents say power failures strike at the worst times, just as families are winding down after a long day. Many are now asking, how long will this continue?
Residents also complain that, despite paying big amounts to settle municipal debts, power supply problems persist. Burnt transformers, overloaded infrastructure, and lack of maintenance remain key challenges.
According to Moses Masuku, Branch Chairperson and Provincial Spokesperson of United African Transformation, “The municipality must fix these transformer connections as a matter of urgency. We have qualified electricians right here in the community who can help, yet they’re being overlooked.”
Community member Monica Msiza echoed these frustrations, saying she pays over R1,000 monthly for electricity while many others remain unemployed. She proposed a tiered payment structure where unemployed residents contribute less (R200–R300) and those with stable income pay more (around R500), to make the system more affordable and sustainable.
As the outages drag on, residents are calling for urgent intervention to restore reliable power and hold the municipality accountable for the ongoing infrastructure failures.
