By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The city of Tshwane has been hit by a massive power outage affecting several areas following the heavy downpours over the weekend.
The affected areas include Skinner-Edmond, Groenkloof, Muckleneuk, Arcadia, Sunnyside, Berea, UNISA, the Union Buildings precinct, and the wider Pretoria Central side.
City’s spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said they are aware of the power outage.
“A team of technicians has been dispatched to investigate the cause of the outage with a view to restoring this essential service.”
Mashigo has urged residents, businesses, and institutions in affected areas to exercise caution while the outage persists and to follow any guidance issued by authorities.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused to affected customers, “Mashigo said, emphasizing that resolving the blackout is now a top priority.
Meanwhile Tshwane is moving ahead with a tougher plan to deal with abandoned, unsafe and hijacked buildings. The city is now closer to using the Expropriation Act to take properties where owners refuse to act.
The municipality has already issued 33 contravention notices worth R165,000 to owners who have allowed their buildings to become dangerous or neglected. But stronger powers are on the way.
A new Problem Building and Property Management Bylaw has been drafted, approved by council, and is now out for public comment.
If adopted early next year, it will give the city the authority to force owners to fix their buildings, and, if they still do nothing, to expropriate those properties.
The by-law forms part of Tshwane’s expanding bad buildings programme, which started in the inner city and will soon extend into Sunnyside, Pretoria West and other key corridors.