​Lerato Mailoane
In a promising announcement that brought relief to Orange Farm residents, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has committed to swiftly replacing 137 electricity transformers in the area to restore power to the community.
In a community meeting on Thursday, Lesufi revealed plans to replace more than 500 transformers across the province, addressing the persistent shortage that has contributed to power outages.
He assured residents that the provincial government has allocated a substantial R1.2 billion to resolve the transformer issue, intending to ensure a power outage-free Christmas in Gauteng.
"The shortage of transformers has been sorted out…the provincial government of Gauteng has set aside R1.2 billion so that before Christmas, we must not have this problem of transformers in Gauteng."
Responding proactively to electricity challenges beyond scheduled load shedding, the provincial government has actively engaged with various communities as part of the Energy Response Plan.
Premier Lesufi said the energy response plan focuses on rectifying the scarcity of transformers, a primary cause of the power disruptions in many communities.
In addition to transformer shortages, Lesufi highlighted the destruction of cables in Orange Farm. He pledged to replace the damaged cable lines and assured residents of a follow-up visit within two weeks to provide updates on the progress. 
"We will not have discrimination; we will fit every household regardless of who you are. To ensure the safety of the transformers, 620 soldiers will be deployed to Gauteng to protect this infrastructure," he said.
Moreover, the premier underscored incorporating state-of-the-art technology in the new transformers. This technology is designed to track theft and vandalism, adding an extra layer of security to the power infrastructure.