Staff Reporter
Eskom says a substation in Harrismith has gone up in flames following a cable theft in the area.
The theft, according to the national power utility, has resulted in major damage that has led to a loss of supply to Harrismith and 42nd Hill.
“As a result of the theft, both breakers at 42nd Hill caught fire,” said Eskom in a statement.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed and transformer tests will also be conducted.
“At this stage it is estimated that electricity supply may be restored by tomorrow evening,” added the statement.
Cable thefts are usually carried out by syndicates dealing in copper which is then sold to scrap metal dealers.
Late last year, a similar incident of cable theft left the residents of Bethlehem in the eastern Free State without electricity for several hours after a fire broke out at the Groenvoerlande substation.
Eskom provincial spokesperson Stefanie Jansen van Rensburg told journalists at that time that between May and October last year, cable theft incidents had increased significantly.
She said a single incident of cable theft can cost up to R20 million to fix.
The eastern parts of the province as well as the Goldfields area which includes the mining towns of Welkom and Virginia are some of the hotspots for cable theft.