ST FRANCIS BAY – Ongoing power outages in Sea Vista, St Francis Bay, have left homeowners frustrated, with residents claiming illegal electricity connections are contributing to repeated disruptions.

Resident Richard Kiva said the electricity supply was currently restored on his line, but the problem continued to affect parts of Sea Vista as illegal connections remained in place.

He said the electricity problems were not limited to his household, adding that his family living in other parts of Sea Vista also experienced ongoing outages.

Kiva said his household had suffered damage to its electricity supply, which he attributed to illegal connections.

“I had a whole power supply damaged because of the illegal connections,” said Kiva.

He added that he had informed the Kouga Municipality of the damage, and was allegedly instructed to file a case in the Small Claims Court.

Resident Garth Jordaan said power outages had become increasingly frequent, with his household being without electricity for extended periods.

“We experience power outages often, and it has only gotten worse. From 1 July, the power was off for a total of six days due to illegal connections,” said Jordaan.

He said he had reported the matter to the Kouga Municipality call centre but was told that the illegal connections needed to be removed before assistance could be provided.

According to Jordaan, his electricity supply had been interrupted for more than a week, while municipal teams had disconnected illegal connections but left cables on the ground.

“The Kouga Municipality does disconnect the illegal connections but then leave the cables on the ground,” claimed Jordaan.

He said the outages had made everyday activities difficult for residents.

“It’s difficult because we have to prepare in the dark and when we come home from work it’s off. Power is needed for daily life.”

Jordaan said he had reported the matter to the municipality on numerous occasions since the introduction of the call centre and had kept the reference numbers as proof. He said the outages had also resulted in financial losses for his family.

Jordaan said in 2023 he lost a lot of meat that was in his fridge and he had lost household appliances due to the ongoing power interruptions. “I lost a fridge, a sound system and a few days ago I lost my microwave. We are hopeless as this matter falls on deaf ears. As a homeowner, I’m hopeless.”

Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman said Kouga Municipality is aware of the ongoing concerns regarding electricity interruptions and illegal electricity connections in Sea Vista.

He said illegal connections place severe pressure on the electricity network, contribute to overloads and outages, and create serious safety risks for both residents and municipal personnel. To address this challenge, Bornman said the municipality has implemented Phase 1 of the informal settlement electrification project, which is funded by Kouga Local Municipality and provides electricity to approximately 250 households.

He said this intervention has already reduced the frequency of outages compared to the period before the project commenced.

Meanwhile, Bornman said Phase 2 of the electrification programme is currently underway and will provide electricity to approximately 200 additional households in areas that remain vulnerable to illegal connections and network overloading.

“The land on which these households are situated is owned by the Department of Public Works. Kouga Local Municipality obtained the necessary permission from the department to proceed with the electrification of the affected areas,” said Bornman.

He said the municipality notes that the continued growth of informal and unapproved structures, including those erected for rental accommodation, places increasing pressure on an already constrained electricity network.

Bornman said where electricity is accessed illegally, the network is exposed to excessive loading, infrastructure damage and repeated supply interruptions. “Municipal electricity teams respond to reports of power outages and illegal electricity connections daily. However, the removal of illegal connections is often complicated by immediate reconnections, intimidation of municipal staff and the need for law enforcement support. In many instances, municipal teams cannot safely carry out disconnections without the presence of law enforcement officers,” said Bornman.

He said on previous occasions, the municipality has also been required through legal processes to return certain private property.

Bornman said cables used in illegal electricity connections may belong to the individuals involved, and their removal must therefore be handled within the applicable legal framework.

He said this further complicates enforcement efforts, particularly where illegal connections are restored shortly after disconnection.

Bornman said the municipality works closely with law enforcement to conduct disconnection operations and safeguard municipal officials during these interventions.

He said the municipality has engaged extensively with the Sea Vista community to raise awareness of the importance of protecting both residents and municipal infrastructure.

“Through these engagements, residents have been encouraged to help prevent the erection of new informal structures that place additional strain on the electricity network,” said Bornman.

He added that the municipality receives reports and complaints regarding illegal electricity connections and power interruptions in Sea Vista through the municipal call centre and other channels.

Bornman said these reports are attended to as operational capacity and safety conditions allow.

“Residents are encouraged to continue reporting incidents through the official channels and to provide any information that could assist the municipality and law enforcement in identifying and prosecuting those responsible for illegal electricity connections,” said Bornman.

He said previous successful prosecutions have demonstrated that community cooperation plays a vital role in addressing this challenge.

Regarding claims for damage to appliances allegedly caused by electricity supply interruptions, Bornman said residents may submit a formal claim to the municipality’s Claims Department.

“Claims will be assessed in accordance with the municipality’s claims procedures, and the necessary supporting documentation must be provided,” said Bornman.

“Kouga Municipality remains committed to improving the reliability of electricity supply in Sea Vista through the ongoing electrification programme, daily operational responses, enforcement action and collaboration with law enforcement agencies,” said Bornman.

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