Residents march over ongoing electricity crisis
Residents of Imizamo Yethu marched through Hout Bay demanding the restoration of electricity.
The community has been without power for more than three months. This follows a fire that displaced hundreds of residents. The march moved from the informal settlement to the Hout Bay Library. Residents later gathered at the Hout Bay Sports and Recreation Facility. They met officials from the City of Cape Town.
Fire left hundreds displaced
The electricity outage began on Tuesday 24 February. A major fire destroyed 175 homes in Imizamo Yethu.
Nearly 1 000 people lost their homes. Since then, residents have lived without electricity.
Community activist and Wonga Tours owner Wonga Lucas led the march. He said residents can no longer endure the conditions, especially during winter.
“As a community leader and a business owner, I could not stand aside while my community suffered,” Lucas said.
Daily struggle without electricity
Residents said living conditions have become increasingly dangerous.
Many families now rely on charcoal for heat and cooking. They often do this inside poorly ventilated structures.
Lucas warned this increases health and fire risks. “Homes lie cold to the core,” he said. “At night, people light charcoal in badly ventilated homes.” He added that children often arrive late at school. Families struggle to prepare in the mornings without electricity.
An elderly resident caring for his wife, who lives with tuberculosis, was also highlighted during the march.
Community demands urgent intervention
Lucas urged wider Hout Bay communities to support fire victims. He said the situation reflects a human rights concern.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” he said. “Imizamo Yethu fire victims have been living in injury since 24 February.” He also called for accountability from the City.
City responds to delays and timelines
Ward 74 councillor Rob Quintas said administrative processes delayed restoration work.
He said the City first needed to complete disaster verification. This included confirming affected residents and checking electricity meter legality. Quintas added that severe cold fronts affected contractor availability and slowed progress. A contractor has now been appointed. Work will begin once agreements are finalised with community structures. He also said disputes over local labour allocation contributed to delays.
“When working with communities, we engage structures,” Quintas said. “No group can dictate employment processes.”
He added that officials and contractors also faced disruptions when accessing the site.
City confirms new completion timeline
Alderman Xanthea Limberg, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, provided an update on the project timeline.
She said a commitment was made for a contractor to start work today (1 June) . All work is expected to be completed before 30 June 2026, if all goes according to plan.
“The delay was due to the reinstatement contract coming to an end. Through collaboration with other depots, a new contract was secured to assist with reinstatements during the remainder of this financial year,” Limberg said. Quintas said the City remains committed to restoring services.
“No one has forgotten about them,” he said. “We must follow proper processes and ensure fiscal responsibility.” He also reminded residents that protests must follow legal requirements, including proper notice where disruption is expected.
