Cable Theft Sparks Fire at Olievenhoutbosch Substation

Key Takeaways

• The City of Tshwane has confirmed that criminal cable theft was responsible for the fire that ravaged the Olievenhoutbosch Primary Substation on Christmas Eve.
• The fire left parts of Centurion and Olievenhoutbosch without electricity, with one transformer destroyed beyond repair.
• Technical teams have made progress in assessing the remaining equipment, with one transformer cleared for use and diagnostics continuing on the other two.
• The city has condemned cable theft as economic sabotage and has called on residents to play an active role in protecting public infrastructure.
• Long-term solutions are being developed to strengthen infrastructure security, improve early-detection systems, and implement preventative measures to prevent future incidents.

Introduction to the Incident
The City of Tshwane provided an update on Friday regarding the fire that ravaged the Olievenhoutbosch Primary Substation on Christmas Eve. The fire, which was caused by criminal cable theft, left parts of Centurion and Olievenhoutbosch without electricity. Deputy Executive Mayor Eugene Modise visited the site to assess the damage firsthand and receive technical briefings from officials from the electricity department. The substation, which houses four transformers, sustained significant damage, with one transformer destroyed beyond repair.

Assessment of the Damage
Modise confirmed that the fire erupted around 2am on 24 December and burned for much of Christmas Day before emergency services contained it. However, technical teams have made progress in assessing the remaining equipment. According to Modise, the second transformer has undergone comprehensive testing and been cleared for use. The city is working to restore power to the affected areas as quickly as possible, with specialized cleaning operations already begun at the damaged substation. Technical crews conducted dry-ice cleaning on the busbars to safely remove fire residue and contaminants without causing additional damage to sensitive electrical equipment.

Restoration Efforts
Restoration efforts are underway, despite weather challenges. The city acknowledged that weather conditions have complicated repair efforts, with heavy rainfall making it difficult for technical teams to function optimally. Modise said teams were working around the clock to replace other critical components, including cabling, necessary for safe power restoration. The city has apologized to the community members affected by the fire and the inconvenience caused by the outage. Modise emphasized that the city is committed to resolving the situation and building a more resilient, secure, and reliable electricity network for the future.

Condemnation of Cable Theft
Modise issued a strong condemnation of the criminal activity that precipitated the crisis. He emphasized that cable theft is far more than a petty crime, characterizing it as an attack on essential services and community well-being. Cable theft is not a victimless crime, but an act of economic sabotage that disrupts essential services, endangers lives, damages critical infrastructure, and imposes significant financial burdens on the city and its residents. The impact extends across multiple sectors of society, affecting households, businesses, healthcare facilities, and schools.

Call to Action
The city called on residents to play an active role in protecting public infrastructure. Modise emphasized that protecting public infrastructure is a shared responsibility and urged residents to stand united against infrastructure vandalism. He encouraged residents to report suspicious activities, which will help law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible for the theft and subsequent fire. By working together, the city can prevent future incidents and build a more secure and reliable electricity network.

Long-term Solutions
While addressing the immediate crisis, Tshwane indicated that it is looking beyond short-term repairs. The city is actively exploring innovative and sustainable solutions to strengthen infrastructure security, improve early-detection systems, and implement preventative measures to ensure that cable theft and related incidents do not become the norm. The municipality acknowledged the frustration experienced by affected residents and businesses and committed to providing further updates as restoration work progresses. Modise promised to work tirelessly to restore power and safeguard infrastructure, which remain top priorities for the administration.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the City of Tshwane is working to restore power to the affected areas after the fire at the Olievenhoutbosch Primary Substation. The city has condemned cable theft as economic sabotage and has called on residents to play an active role in protecting public infrastructure. Long-term solutions are being developed to strengthen infrastructure security, improve early-detection systems, and implement preventative measures to prevent future incidents. By working together, the city can build a more resilient, secure, and reliable electricity network for the future.