13 May 2011
Tzaneen, Modjadjiskloof, Haenertsburg, Letsitele, Phalaborwa, Gravelotte, Giyani, Hoedspruit, Lenyenye, Mica, Mooketsi, Nkowankowa, Ofcolaco, Trichardtsdal
R3
3838, Tzaneen • 8 Crown Street/Straat 8 • 015 307 7248 • 015 307 7684 • editor@bulletinnews.co.za • www.bulletinnews.co.za
Crisis is looming • Blackouts for Tzaneen an ominous reality yet again •
Tzaneen’s electricity system is in danger of collapse, according to the Integrated Development Plan for the Greater Tzaneen Municipality for 2011/12 which has just been released. The report states: “The system has deteriorated to unacceptable levels which will ultimately cause the total and imminent collapse of some part of the network, unless drastic and immediate intervention is undertaken.” The situation is due to “a combination of phenomenal growth and insufficient capital reinvestment”. Applications for funding of over R800 million were made to various government departments during early 2007 but “no positive reaction has been received to date.” This state of affairs could lead to possible sanctions by the National Electricity Regulator for non-compliance. Some 50% of the network has reached the end of its projected lifespan. This has resulted in rotten poles and the breaking of overhead conductors due to ageing. Some
of the distribution transformers have also exceeded their lifespan and loading capacity. “Old technology” steel earth wires have become brittle with ageing and overload, and need to be replaced by aluminium conductors. The neglected state of the system, as well as future maintenance, requires either the total rebuilding of overhead lines or refurbishing. A start has been made in remedying the situation but a remaining backlog of over 500 km required attention. Increased breakdowns and power outages have led to loss of revenue, increased maintenance cost, demotivated and overworked employees and (wait for it) dissatisfied customers. More than 70% of rural personnel’s man hours is spent on breakdowns instead of planned maintenance. There are significant anomalies in supply. On the one hand, the GTM is one of the largest non-Eskom distributors of electricity in the country, distributing to an area of 3 500 square
km. But on the other, Eskom services Nkowankowa, Lenyenye and surrounding areas which fall within the municipal area. The GTM supplies electricity to the Letsitele farming area, Eiland and Gravelotte, but these areas fall under the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality. The Regional Electricity Distribution System, which has been designed to address these problems has not yet been implemented. A comprehensive management information system costing R2,5m is required to replace the existing paper system to conform with minimum Eskom standards. Another R10m is required for essential test equipment for fault locating, supply monitoring and line building, as well as vehicles. Tzaneen’s maximum metered demand for electricity is 107 MVA which compares with (the vastly bigger) Polokwane’s figure of 120 MVA. The corresponding electrical budgets of the two towns are vastly different. • Also read our reports on pages 6 & 7.
Matrics The last tango
It sounds unreal, but the time to start saying farewell to matric pupils has come again. Stanford Lake College’s matric kicked off the matric farewell functions for 2011. Seen at the school’s last matric dance were Dillen McGaffin with date Xyza Stander, Rudi Nell with Simone Muller, Stuart Hillary with his date Lizanne Steenkamp and Justin Mitchel with Kristina Hopkins. • See story and photo on page 3.
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Edition page 9