A cable upgrade in Kempton Park could give electricity teams more options when part of the local network goes down.

The 66kV link between Van Riebeeck Park and Glen Marais substations forms part of work to complete a ring connecting several substations. In an update published by Kempton Express on 8 October, the project team was targeting completion by the end of the month. 

How the connection could help

Project representative Thabang Motlana explained that linked substations can allow electricity to be supplied from another direction when an outage affects part of the network. A missing connection limits that option.

Completing the ring is intended to reduce the impact of outages by making alternative supply possible. It is an improvement to how electricity reaches neighbourhoods, rather than a new source of electricity. 

What has been completed?

In the 15 September progress update quoted in the report, Motlana said the cables had been laid and their end connections completed. Jointing and final work remained, with final testing scheduled for 22–23 September.

The report does not confirm the outcome of those tests or a date when the link would enter service. The end-of-October completion date remains a target. 

Residents have continued to experience interruptions. A separate outage on 29 September affected several Kempton Park neighbourhoods, with the city reporting that technicians were investigating the cause. 

Keep reporting local faults

Residents should continue reporting electricity problems rather than assuming every interruption is connected to the upgrade.

Ekurhuleni lists 0860 543 000 and call.centre@ekurhuleni.gov.za as service-reporting channels, including for power failures and damaged electrical infrastructure. 

When reporting, have your street address, suburb and the time the interruption began ready. Keep any reference number for follow-up, and stay away from exposed cables or open electrical equipment.

• View Ekurhuleni’s service-reporting information

The Bottom Line

An alternative supply route could help limit the disruption when faults occur. The next milestone is confirmation that the cable has passed testing and entered service, followed by how reliably the network performs for residents.