Operations at Cape Town International Airport have continued with minimal disruption despite a power outage caused by kites becoming entangled in high-voltage power lines early this morning (Friday 4 April).
According to Eskom, the incident occurred at approximately 03:50, prompting an immediate response from technicians who were dispatched to carry out emergency repairs. Electricity supply to the airport and surrounding areas is expected to be restored by 10:30.
Generator power keeps systems running
The airport said in a statement it is currently operating on generator power, allowing essential services to continue. While some delays or minor inconveniences may occur, airport staff remain on hand to assist passengers and ensure operations run as smoothly as possible.
Officials have apologised for any inconvenience caused, noting that contingency measures have helped limit the overall impact on flights and travellers.
Wider impact on surrounding areas
The outage has also affected nearby residential neighbourhoods and industrial zones, creating knock-on effects beyond the airport precinct. Residents have been advised to treat all electrical infrastructure as live until power is fully restored.
Eskom has urged parents and guardians to keep children away from power lines, warning that flying kites or other objects near electrical infrastructure is both dangerous and illegal.
The utility stressed that such incidents can have widespread consequences, disrupting critical services and posing serious safety risks.
Recent disruptions
The latest outage comes just weeks after a separate incident at the airport. As previously reported by Nova News, a fire in the Northern Service Yard on 24 February caused widespread flight delays and passenger frustration.
Emergency teams responded swiftly to that blaze, containing it without injuries or fatalities, although key airport systems were temporarily affected.
Despite the recent challenges, airport authorities say systems are resilient, and efforts remain focused on maintaining safe and efficient operations for all travellers.
READ ALSO: Cape Town airport resumes full operations after fire disruption
