Emfuleni under pressure to urgently repair fire-damaged substation

VANDERBIJLPARK - The Freedom Front Plus has placed intense pressure on the Emfuleni Local Municipality to urgently repair the NE3 substation in Vanderbijlpark, which was destroyed in a fire last Friday. The substation powers the NE3 industrial area, home to major manufacturers and an informal settlement. This is the second such fire in two years, with the previous incident leaving the area powerless for several days. VF Plus councillor Gerda Senekal says the substation is dangerously overloaded and its capacity must be increased to meet current demand. Illegal power connections are worsening the strain, and the FF Plus is calling for immediate enforcement. With Emfuleni’s unemployment rate at 56% and factories relocating due to failing infrastructure, the economic impact is severe. VF Plus warns that further delays could cripple what remains of Emfuleni’s industrial base. The municipality has sent out an assessor following public and political pressure.