Technicians repair cables between Ottery and Lansdowne Station, in Cape Town, that were dug up and cut by thieves. Picture: Ross Jansen Technicians repair cables between Ottery and Lansdowne Station, in Cape Town, that were dug up and cut by thieves. Picture: Ross Jansen
Two severe power surges in Morningside in the space of a month have damaged or destroyed numerous appliances in homes in the Durban suburb.
The municipality has confirmed the surges were the result of cable thefts at an electricity substation in the area.
The first theft took place on January 12 and the second on Monday.
Diana Coleman said that with the first surge, her family lost appliances to the value of about R30 000.
“Our telephones, garage motor, WiFi router and air-conditioner just blew. We understand that the municipality can’t be liable for the damages due to theft, but there needs to be better security for the substations,” she said.
Sally Goldman said she needed to replace the entire circuitry of her home after the first power surge.
“Two light sensors blew, my daughter had to have her laptop power pack replaced and our house alarm transformer box was blown. On Monday a portable phone and the pool pump blew,” she said.
Conrad Schultz said he had minimal damage at his home because he had installed power surge adapters.
Coleman, however, said power surge adapters might not be the answer to their problem as the voltage passing through was too high for the adapter to handle.
An
eThekwini municipal spokesman, Thabo Mofokeng, said a unit had been set up to catch cable thieves.
“For residents affected by power surges, a claims unit reviews each case and where there is negligence from the municipality, people are compensated,” he said. - The Mercury