A musk-cat and rain were responsible for protracted electric power failures last Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday this week in Louis Trichardt.

The acting director technical services of the Makhado Municipality this week said that three 22kV arrestors short circuited at the Makhado substation, which ultimately resulted in the municipality and Eskom’s supply being interrupted on Saturday.

"The cause of the short circuit was the unfortunate action of a musk-cat, doing unauthorised inspection for food in a live chamber," he said. Officials of the municipality as well as Eskom temporarily restored the power around 22:00.

He said on Sunday from 10:00 to 11:00 the power had to be switched off once again to repair the broken surge arrestors which posed a serious safety risk.

At approximately 05:45 on Tuesday morning, September 25, the central line which feeds the central business district (CBD) of Louis Trichardt tripped out, due to the rain which exposed a broken insulator and subsequently caused the wooden crossarm to burn off. This resulted in the CBD and the older part of town being without electricity from about 05:45 to 10:00, when the repair work was successfully completed.

"It should be mentioned that this feeder line is currently being replaced, due to its age and capacity constraints," he said.

Mr Mamureni said he acknowledged the inconvenience of consumers in town.

"Everybody can rest assured that we are trying our best with the resources currently at our disposal," he said.