Unresolved Cable Faults Keep Parts of Potch in the Dark
- Karen Scheepers
- 14 hours ago
- 2 min read
A major power outage continues to affect residents across Grimbeek Park, Baillie Park, and surrounding areas in Potchefstroom, with electrical infrastructure repairs still ongoing. The JB Marks Local Municipality issued a public notice confirming that its Electrical Section was dispatched to address three distinct network faults identified across the municipal grid. Field teams have been carrying out extensive excavation work to expose damaged underground cables and perform essential jointing, though full restoration of electricity across all affected neighborhoods remains unconfirmed.
Complex Underground Obstacles Complicate Technical Repairs
Municipal crews initiated targeted digging operations along key thoroughfares, including Watsonia, Rivier, Maree, and Herman Streets. The repair operations, monitored on-site by senior directors, managers, and electricians, encountered significant physical barriers beneath the surface. In Watsonia Street, workers discovered a massive tree root system tightly wrapped around an electrical cable joint, severely obstructing access to the damaged line and delaying the necessary jointing process.
Overnight Work Yields Partial Progress Amid Remaining Network Issues
Technical teams worked through cold overnight conditions to resolve the network disruptions. While partial progress was achieved around 01:15 when the mini-substation in Lelie Street was re-energized, additional infrastructure faults were detected. A fault remains active between the mini-substations in Arend Street and Lelie Street, while further digging is required between Watsonia and Herman Streets. Additionally, reports of outages along Beyers Naudé Drive were noted during the evening. As a result, municipal representatives confirmed that work could not be completed overnight, and full restoration across all affected zones has not yet been achieved.
The JB Marks Local Municipality extended its appreciation to impacted residents for their patience as heavy machinery and technical crews remain on-site to resolve the remaining network faults. Further official communication is expected as testing continues and progress is made toward fully restoring electrical service across the affected areas.
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