CITY OF TSHWANE INITIATES A CAPITAL PROJECT IN OLIEVENHOUTBOSCH

MMC for Utility Services, Cllr Frans Boshielo, has initiated and handed over to the contractor a major electricity capital
project in Ward 106, Region 4, Olievenhoutbosch photo supplied

By Cllr Frans Boshielo
MMC for Utility Services

The City of Tshwane, under the leadership of the MMC for Utility Services, Cllr Frans Boshielo, has initiated and handed over to the contractor a major electricity capital
project in Ward 106, Region 4, Olievenhoutbosch, marking the beginning of a crucial infrastructure recovery project aimed at stabilising electricity supply to Olievenhoutbosch and neighbouring areas.

The substation, which was vandalised in 2017, has been out of operation for several years, leaving large parts of Region 4 vulnerable to persistent blackouts and unreliable supply.

The refurbishment project forms part of the City’s ongoing infrastructure renewal drive, with a specific focus on restoring and strengthening key nodes within the power distribution network.

Funds amounting to approximately R1 million has been allocated in the 2025/26 financial year to prioritise the second phase of the substation’s
refurbishment project.

Additional funding will be allocated in the next financial year, focusing on the last phase that will finally restore to full operational status, ensuring that residents and businesses in Olievenhoutbosch, Rua Vista and adjacent
communities benefit from a stable and resilient electricity network.

Work on site will unfold in phases, beginning with the general renovation of the entire substation facility, followed by the installation of new electrical panels, lighting, protection, and control equipment, concluding with the reintegration of the newly refurbished substation into the network.

In parallel, the city is strengthening the 11 kV underground feeder cable network for this substation, spanning approximately 7 kilometers, focusing on the Olievenhoutbosch, Rua Vista, Noordwes Corridor.

The project to strengthen these feeders has already commenced in the 2024/25 financial year, where the focus was on the Serenade Bridge and the focus is now on the second phase, along the Symphony Bridge (R4 Olievenhoutbosch).

Now that the substation has been handed over, preparations are underway to
commence with site activities by the fourth week of November 2025, with a strict project management framework in place to ensure quality delivery and adherence to timelines.

The City has committed to constant and close monitoring of progress through both the Energy and Electricity Business Unit and the Project Management
Unit, with regular reporting to the Mayoral Committee and local stakeholders.

As part of the preparations, community engagement and local beneficiation processes are being finalised.

These will enable qualified local contractors, suppliers and labourers from within Olievenhoutbosch and surrounding communities to participate
meaningfully in the project.

The City remains committed to ensuring that such projects contribute not only to infrastructure rehabilitation but also to local economic empowerment and job creation.

The Noordwes refurbishment is more than an engineering project it represents the City’s commitment to restoring dignity and reliability to our residents who have endured years of service interruptions.

The City is building a network that will power growth and confidence in Region 4 once again.

MMC Frans Boshielo thanks residents for their patience and cooperation during the period of restoration and assures them that every measure is being taken to accelerate completion and return consistent power supply to Olievenhoutbosch and its surroundings.