George Municipality officially opens award-winning Thembalethu 66kV substation
Celebrating Excellence: The project team and municipal leadership proudly display the AMEU Top Performing Municipal Project Award presented for the newly commissioned Thembalethu 66kV substation project. Front Row (L-R): Cllr Thandiswa Qatana (George Municipality), Cllr Sifiso Ntondini (Ward 11 Councillor), Joubert Theart (Technical Specialist Project Management, ZUTARI), Ald Browen Johnson (Executive Mayor of George), Cllr Eric Mdaka (Ward 12 Councillor), Cllr Siphelo Manxele (Ward 21 Councillor), and Mr Michael Rhode (Director of Electrical Engineering Services Department, George Municipality).
Back Row (L-R): Henning Buitendach (Project Manager, BDE Consulting Engineers), James Turner (Project Manager, BDE Consulting Engineers), Deon Esterhuysen (Manager: Projects & Execution, George Municipality), Daniel Greeff (Deputy Director: Planning & PMU, George Municipality), Kiwin Joubert (Clerk of Works, George Municipality), and Jandré van Zyl (Project Manager, VE Reticulation).
George Municipality has officially opened its new 40MVA 66/11kV substation in Thembalethu recently, marking a significant milestone in strengthening electricity supply reliability and providing additional capacity to meet growing demand. The substation supports the current and future residential and economic development in Thembalethu and surrounding areas. The construction was completed over the last five (5) years and contributed to local employment opportunities.
Mayor Johnson Cuts Ribbon at Thembalethu Substation: Executive Mayor of George, Ald Browen Johnson, cuts the ribbon to officially open the new R90-million 40MVA 66/11kV substation in Thembalethu, accompanied by local ward councillors and municipal leadership.
The total cost for the substation is in the order of R90 million, of which R48 million was grant-funded by the Department of Electricity and Energy. The facility was officially opened by the Executive Mayor of George, Ald Browen Johnson, on Friday, 23 October 2026.
The project also earned George Municipality the AMEU Top Performing Municipal Project Award at the 72nd Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities (AMEU) Annual Convention, held in Polokwane from 4 to 7 October 2026.
Executive Mayor Johnson expressed his delight at the successful completion of the project.
“Sometimes people may feel that not enough is happening in their communities. I want residents to know that important work is taking place, including investments in infrastructure that may not always be visible but make a real difference to service delivery. This substation is one example of that commitment in action.
“George is growing, and we need to make sure our infrastructure keeps pace with that growth. We are working to strengthen services across our municipal area, including in Thembalethu, so that our communities are better prepared for future development and residents’ needs,” Mayor Johnson added.
“I also want to congratulate our Electrotechnical Services team on receiving this award. It recognises the technical expertise, dedication and hard work that went into delivering this project. I thank our service providers and everyone who contributed to bringing it to completion.
“Finally, I want to remind the community that this infrastructure serves you. Let us work together to protect and preserve it so that it can continue to benefit Thembalethu for years to come.”
Councillors who attended the opening included Cllr Thandiswa Qatana, Cllr Eric Mdaka, Cllr Sifiso Ntondini (Ward 11) and Cllr Siphelo Manxele (Ward 21), all representing Thembalethu.
Dignitaries Tour Thembalethu Substation Control Room: Executive Mayor Ald Browen Johnson, local ward councillors, and municipal officials inspect the advanced switchgear and control room technology inside the newly commissioned Thembalethu 66kV substation.
The need for a 66kV substation in Thembalethu was identified during the master planning that was done for Thembalethu. It is the final component in establishing a reliable 66kV ring-feed system to the Thembalethu area and providing 20MVA firm capacity via 2 x 20MVA 66/11kV Power Transformers and associated electrical switchgear and control systems.
According to Michael Rhode, Director of George Municipality’s Electrotechnical Engineering Services, the project represents a major investment in bulk electricity infrastructure. “The infrastructure will improve electricity supply reliability to Thembalethu and enhance the municipality’s ability to manage demand across the network. It will also reduce the load on neighbouring substations in Pacaltsdorp and George Industria, helping to preserve available capacity and provide alternative supply options during system faults.”
Michael Rhode Briefs Mayor and Councillors inside Substation: Director of Electrotechnical Engineering Services, Michael Rhode, briefs Executive Mayor Ald Browen Johnson and Thembalethu ward councillors on the technical capabilities of the new bulk electricity infrastructure, which completes the 66kV ring-feed system for George.
“The substation closes the much-needed 66kv ring circuit for George and brings redundancy when the network is under stress”, Rhode added.
Furthermore, the substation incorporates modern protection, control and communication technology. A Fibre-optic cabling network supports remote monitoring, security surveillance and substation control.
The AMEU award recognises the technical expertise and engineering capabilities demonstrated in delivering this complex bulk infrastructure project.