Mthatha - Frequent power cuts could soon be a thing of the past for residents of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.
Their municipality is about to take delivery of three new transformers that will help the city provide enough electricity to cope with the rapidly increasing housing development in the area.
"New RDP housing developments and businesses have been putting strain on the electricity supply in the city. We need to be proactive and ensure that the supply we have will sustain current and future social and business growth," said King Sabatha Dalindyebo mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa on Thursday.
The two 15kv and one 20kv transformers, together worth nearly R14 million, will be installed at the Sidwadwa and Thornhill substations and are expected to go online by November.
Ngqongwa said the new transformers will effectively double the municipality's electricity supply to the area, enough to eliminate the current power shortages.
"It's estimated that the transformers will provide the area with enough electricity until 2030. The municipality is also working on allocating more funds to replace the old electricity infrastructure for the entire municipality," said Ngqongwa.
She pleaded with the public to be patient during the installation, which will result in further power cuts for the city.
She said an additional two transformers will be bought in the next financial year to further improve electricity supply. - SAnews.gov.za
