Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Willie Theunissen and Sesotho by Karabo Khakhau MP.
The community of Bethlehem in Dihlabeng Local Municipality is facing a critical issue that requires immediate attention – the urgent need to upgrade the Panorama Substation to keep up with the increasing electricity demand. The current capacity of the substation is unable to meet the growing power needs of the area, leading to frequent power outages that disrupt daily life and pose potential safety hazards.
The continued power outages experienced by residents and businesses in Panorama, La Provence, Jordania, Bakenpark and sections of Eureka and the CBD highlight the pressing need for infrastructure upgrades.
These outages not only cause inconvenience but also impact essential services, schools, and businesses in the community. The reliability of our power supply is vital for the well-being and economic development of the area.
We call upon the relevant authorities to prioritise the upgrade of the Panorama Substation to ensure a reliable and stable power supply for all residents and businesses. The DA again raised this as a priority in the annual Draft Budget workshop in 2024.
The investment in upgrading this infrastructure is crucial to prevent further power outages and support the growth and prosperity of our community. We urge immediate action to address this issue and ensure that the required budget allocation is addressed and the necessary upgrades to the Panorama Substation are implemented without delay.