17 Feb 2022

Residents of Mafhikana and Gakebuang wards in Kanye expressed grave concerns on frequent power outages in their area particularly  on cloudy, windy and rainy days.

In an interview with BOPA, Kgosi Kgabosebele Kgatlane of Gakebuang ward indicated that the situation had been going on for a long time, without any permanent solution from Botswana Power Cooperation (BPC).

He said their observation, was that the power interruptions were due to a number of reasons, such as minor winds and rains, which he believed could have been long addressed.

“These kind of issues could only affect power supply for some reasonable time when the solution is still being sought, but not for years as this had been happening for more than 10 years,” he said.

Kgosi Kgatlane said when informed about such interruptions, the corporation would come and fix, something that proved to be a temporary solution.

 “When it rains again or it becomes windy, the power will still cut, after having them in the area to fix the situation,” he added.

However, Kgosi Kgatlane attributed some power cuts to cable theft, noting that there were some people who continued to steal and sell electrical cables

He urged the perpetrators to refrain from such acts, as it crippled the economy and put their lives and that of other residents in danger.

He said the money that could be used to install electricity in other areas, would then be used to replace the stolen cables.

“Those other areas would be without power for a long time, limiting them in carrying out some of their daily activities,” he said.

Kgosi Kgatlane appealed to BPC to find permanent solution to their situation as it had been going on for a very long time.

Gakebuang VDC Chairperson, Ms Ireen Wamakhubu explained that power cuts had affected them in many different ways such as electrical appliances being damaged as well as food rotting in fridges.

“We cannot carry on like this, it is high time BPC is held liable and pay for our losses, some people are in business that without electricity for a few hours would be lost,” she said.

Ms Wamakhubu explained that when they first installed electricity, BPC informed them that underground was better than overhead installations in terms of power interruptions.

 “Underground installation was a bit expensive than overhead and for those who opted to pay a higher price for underground, is the same as having been cheated by BPC.” “Re rekiseditswe tonki gotwe ke kgomo,” she added.

She urged BPC to take them seriously and consult them on all the issues that affected them as well as to find permanent solutions to constant power cuts in their area.

“Re lapile, ha gongwe le ha o kgaoga motlakase ga re itshwenye re re re a ba leletsa ka gore go tshwana fela, ha ba sena go tsamaya o sala o kgaoga gape. Re tlhoka paakanyo ya sennela ruri, ha e le gore ditshipi tsa bone di sule, a ba tsenye tse disha, go lobaka re itshokile,” she said.

For her part, BPC’s Marketing and Communications Manager, Ms Dineo Seleke highlighted that the Corporation had established that there were isolated cases of faults experienced in the months of November and December 2021 affecting Mafhikana and Gakebuang wards.

Out of these faults, she said there were three instances of power outages due to faults on the distribution transformers, adding that the defects at that time were resolved and there were no repeat faults to date.

Pertaining to BPC paying for losses incurred due to power outages, Ms Seleke explained that in the event they received reports from customers, the corporation assessed the liability component of the loss and responded accordingly. BOPA