Annisa Essack | kzn@radioislm.org.za
May 8, 2023 | 22:00 CAT
1 min read

Photo Credit: Northern Natal News

On May 7, 2023, the switch house on the N11 caught alight. The Alfred Duma Local Municipality firefighters rushed to the scene to ensure the fire was extinguished.

The fire caused other substations to trip, leaving the whole of Ladysmith in darkness.

Yesterday, the Electrical Engineering Services restored power to a few businesses in the central town, hospitals, the Ladysmith Prison, and the motels, prioritising water treatment plants. The cause of the fire has not been identified. The Department of Electrical Engineering Services expects new medium voltage panels to arrive tomorrow and be installed at Newcastle Road’s municipal second switch house.

This morning, areas were facing a water shortage due to the electricity outage in Ladysmith.

According to uThukela, the Ladysmith bulk purification plant is not operating and couldn’t pump or process water. uThukela spokesperson Jabulani Mkhonza said they currently have water at the Golf Course Reservoir at 55%, Observation Hill at 15% and High Tower at 10%. The water stock levels are depleted, making the provision of water to the community impossible.

The Department will provide more updates on the progress by Friday, May 12, 2023.

WATCH UPDATE HERE