Generator Keeps Wendywood Clinic Running While Eskom Works on Full Power Restoration

Temporary relief at Wendywood Clinic as generator powers essential services

Residents around Wendywood Clinic can breathe a slight sigh of relief. After weeks of an electricity crisis, a repaired large on-site generator has been switched back on this week to keep the clinic functioning during the day.

But the main Eskom power supply remains cut off, with full restoration hinging on resolving illegal electricity connections and securing critical infrastructure.

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Eskom’s infrastructure and illegal connections delaying power return

Ward 109 councillor Lori Coogan confirmed that while the generator provides much-needed daytime power, it is currently switched off at night. Thankfully, a clinic fridge can keep essential medicines and vaccines cold for up to 72 hours without electricity.

Eskom has taken the cautious approach of delaying full reconnection until it can fully secure the substation next to the clinic. This follows repeated tampering and illegal connections that have threatened infrastructure integrity.

At present, a large cable runs in a complex route, across streetlight poles and along the ground—covered in concrete for protection. Eskom won’t dismantle these connections until their Land Development Department completes its securing project, currently in the connection phase, although no clear timeline has been set.

The urgent need for reliable healthcare power

Coogan emphasized the urgency of restoring full power. “Guards working at night don’t have enough lighting, making their job difficult,” she said. More importantly, the clinic must be able to provide reliable healthcare services, a right guaranteed under Section 27 of the South African Constitution.

For many in the area, Wendywood Clinic is a vital healthcare resource. Prolonged power outages jeopardize everything from patient care to vaccine storage.

Community impact and looking ahead

While the generator offers some relief, it’s a stopgap rather than a solution. The community and clinic staff remain hopeful Eskom’s securing project will soon allow full reconnection and end the precarious power situation.

In the meantime, residents are reminded of the importance of safeguarding critical infrastructure and the dangers illegal electricity connections pose, not just to service delivery, but to public safety.

Wendywood’s experience highlights the broader challenge facing many South African communities: balancing infrastructure security, service delivery, and the urgent need to keep essential public services like healthcare running, even in the face of ongoing electricity struggles.

{Source: The Citizen}

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