Kimberley – Sol Plaatje Municipality has taken a giant leap forward in its service delivery journey with the arrival and installation of a brand-new 20 MVA transformer at the Galeshewe Substation, alongside critical water infrastructure upgrades.
The new transformer, with a total price tag of R21.7 million covering procurement, supporting equipment, installation and commissioning has landed, and work is already in full swing. Acting City Engineer Electrical, Mr Gordon Mathidibe, didn’t hold back in describing what this means for the city’s power network.
“It will boost reliability of supply and reduce the risk of an overloaded network,” Mathidibe said.
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“We will now be able to electrify Marikana, and new portions of Tshwaragano and Platfontein without constraining the network. The total household new connections are estimated at 300 for this financial year.”
Since the winter of 2018, the Galeshewe Substation has been limping along on a single 20 MVA transformer. This new unit is expected to ease that burden considerably, improving power reliability for the residents who depend on it daily.
But the good news doesn’t stop with electricity. The municipality also carried out essential pipework and valve upgrades at the Newstown Reservoir Complex.
The repairs included the installation of new valves, thorough de-sludging and sanitation of the reservoirs, as well as the erection of security fencing and the installation of CCTV cameras within the perimeter.
These upgrades are part of the municipality’s broader push to improve service delivery, tighten infrastructure security and provide more dependable electricity and water to the people of Kimberley and the surrounding areas.
For residents and businesses alike, the message is clear: the city is investing in its foundations, and the benefits should be felt for years to come.
