Power Outage Update: Trenching Underway as Repair Work Finally Begins

Repair Team Now On-Site Preparing for Installation

Residents in Queens Drive, Grey Street, Prince Alfred Street and Ebden Street have at least seen visible movement today, with the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality confirming that trenching and site preparation have officially begun. After days of procurement delays and waiting for equipment, the team is now on-site breaking ground for the new underground cable.

Trenching Phase Progressing Along Residential Pathways

Workers began the excavation phase earlier today, digging along residential paving to prepare the route for the replacement electrical cable. The trench is being cut to the required depth to safely house the infrastructure, with manual labour used around trees and existing utilities where precision is required.

Heavy Machinery and Manual Labour Working in Tandem

A JCB backhoe is handling the major excavation work, while municipal staff use hand tools for the detailed sections. This combination is typical for underground cable installations, especially in older residential areas where roots, pipes and other obstructions require careful navigation.

Long-Term Fix Expected Once Cable Arrives

While residents remain without power, today’s progress confirms that the municipality is preparing the ground so installation can begin immediately once the replacement cable arrives on Saturday evening. Laying a full XLPE cable — rather than attempting to patch the old paper-insulated one — suggests a longer-term solution aimed at improving reliability and preventing repeat outages.

Further updates are expected once the cable is delivered and installation begins.