Large parts of Nelson Mandela Bay remain without electricity — and in some areas water — following a major power outage caused by vandalism and adverse weather conditions.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality confirmed that strong winds, combined with ongoing vandalism, led to the collapse of two major 132kV power line towers linking Chatty, Bloemendal and Rowallan Park on Thursday evening.
Power restoration under way
Municipal technical teams are on site attending to the damage. Some areas are receiving electricity through backfeeding, while load reduction measures have been implemented where necessary. At this stage, no estimated time of restoration has been provided.
Ward 7 councillor Brendon Pegram said a contractor has been appointed to assess the damage to the electricity main cable pylon, adding that the Acting City Manager would accompany the contractor to ensure all necessary actions are carried out promptly and accurately.
Ward 9 councillor Bernhard Wolf said he had received an unconfirmed image of a damaged power pylon believed to be the cause of the outage. He added that the electricity disruption has also resulted in water supply challenges in several areas, with formal confirmation from the Metro still pending.
Water supply disruptions
In a separate update, the municipality confirmed that water supply interruptions are linked to the power outage at the Stanford Road Power Station. Several reservoirs have either run dry or are in the process of running dry due to the loss of power.
Affected Areas – Chelsea Zone (High-Lying Areas):
Baywest, Rowallan Park, Sherwood, Lorraine, Ben Kamma, Beverley Grove, Theescombe, Lake Farm, Colleen Glen, Hunters Retreat, Kabega Park, Morningside, Linton Grange, Framesby, Malabar, Sunridge Park, Westering, Cotswold, Fernglen, Barcelona, Parsonsvlei and Parsons Ridge.
Additional affected areas:
Joe Slovo (West), Khayamnandi, Chatty 11 and 12 (Qunu, Marikana and Jachtvlakte), Reservoir Hills, Rosedale, Mountain View and Moeggessukel.
Residents have been urged to use water sparingly while restoration efforts continue.
Business Chamber Raises Concerns
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has raised serious concerns about the prolonged outage and its impact on communities and small businesses.
Chief Executive Officer Denise van Huyssteen said it was highly concerning that large parts of the Metro had been without electricity and in some instances water, since Wednesday afternoon.
She added that the outage is expected to last for a prolonged period, potentially several days, with residential areas and smaller businesses bearing the brunt of the impact, while key industrial and commercial nodes remain operational.
“We strongly urge the Municipality to move with absolute urgency to resolve the power outage, as the longer it continues, the greater the risks to community wellbeing, safety and business continuity,” she said.
