CAPE TOWN – The Western Cape Government says significant progress has been made in restoring electricity to communities affected by last month’s severe storms, with 92% of impacted areas across the province now reconnected to the power grid.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said he has been chairing daily meetings with Eskom leadership since the storms struck, receiving regular updates alongside provincial cabinet members on efforts to restore electricity to the hardest-hit areas.
While welcoming the progress made, Winde acknowledged the frustration of residents who remain without power weeks after the adverse weather caused widespread damage to infrastructure.
“We fully acknowledge and understand the frustration experienced by residents who have had to endure prolonged power outages. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and remain committed to keeping affected communities informed as updates become available from Eskom and other relevant stakeholders,” he said.
In the Cape Winelands, electricity restoration work is still underway in the Witzenberg area, where repairs are expected to be completed by 26 June.
Several other areas across the province also remain affected, including Askop and parts of the Garden Route, as well as communities in the Overberg and West Coast districts. Eskom has indicated varying completion dates for the outstanding repair work, ranging from this week to late June.
Winde also condemned incidents of cable theft reported in some affected areas, saying criminal activity was hampering efforts to restore power.
“It is appalling that criminals will use this disaster for their own nefarious means. I urge Eskom, where possible, to take steps to prevent such acts of criminality,” he said.
The provincial government said it recognised the considerable impact prolonged outages have had on households, businesses and daily life, and pledged to continue working closely with Eskom and other stakeholders to ensure residents receive regular updates as restoration efforts continue.
According to the Western Cape Government, the remaining affected areas include Witzenberg in the Cape Winelands, Askop, Fisantehoek, Brackenhill, Klein Bavaria, Sonskyn, Buffelsnek, Garden of Eden and Harkerville in the Garden Route, Hemel-en-Aarde, Malgas and Stanford farms in the Overberg, and Algeria and Noordhoek farms on the West Coast. Repair work in some of these areas is expected to continue until as late as 26 June.
