Power will be restored by Christmas Eve in the district of Piet Retief after a substation was severely damaged by an explosion and fire on Wednesday night, Eskom spokesperson Sithembele Tshwete said on Thursday.
Engineers from Eskom and the Piet Retief municipality are investigating the cause of the explosion.
An emergency portable substation is being transported to Piet Retief, which has been without electricity since Wednesday night.
Police spokesperson Director Sana Masaiyane said on Thursday that sabotage is not suspected.
An overload on the ageing substation possibly caused the explosion, Masaiyane said. — Sapa