By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
City Power has confirmed that electricity has been fully restored to areas affected by a gas explosion in the Johannesburg Central Business District.
About 2,820 households lost water and electricity after the suspected gas explosion that left one person dead and 48 injured.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said,100% of the power was restored within the CBD including in the explosion’s epicentre.
“These include Bank City, Pritchard, west of Loveday, Jeppe, West Street, Diagonal, Sauer, Harrison, President, Simmons, JRA, and the surrounding area west of Bree Streets.”
Mangena said, “The team worked hard overnight after the clearance was given by the Emergency Services, Disaster Management, and Labour. The gas levels were also cleared at 1% on the risk matrix.
“We also expect to restore the feeder cables under the collapsed road structure along Bree Street after they tested clear during the initial testing this morning,” he added.
“City Power teams will remain on site working with other municipal entities to ensure safety as the City clears and restores more services.”
Security in the area affected by the explosion has also been strengthened.
The JRA installed a 900-metre diamond mesh wire fence and green covers around the blast site after passers-by damaged the razor wire used to keep pedestrians off the road.
The fence was installed from Von Willigh Street and extends towards the Lilian Ngoyi Street intersection with Loveday Street.
Meanwhile the City of Joburg has warned residents to expect higher-than-normal municipal bills this month, reminding property owners that rate and tax hikes have kicked in and new property values are in effect.
In addition, pensioner rebates have also lapsed and require qualifying residents to reapply.
“Increases in ratepayers’ monthly bills result from the implementation of the annual tariffs on municipal service charges, property rates, effected by new property values which are aligned to the General Valuation Roll (GVR) 2023, and the lapsing of pensioner rebates,” it said.
All pensioners who received property rebates that lapsed on 30 June 2023, need to reapply and be re-evaluated to qualify for the new rebates.
All applications for the rebates received on or by 30 September 2023 will be backdated to 1 July 2023 should they be successful. Pensioner’s rebate application forms are available from any municipal Customer Service Centre or on www.joburg.org.za.