Power utility Eskom says its recovery teams are working to repair damaged infrastructure and restore electricity supply to towns across the Western Cape following severe weather conditions.
Heavy rainfall, strong winds and flooding have affected multiple areas, but technical teams remain mobilised to restore power to impacted communities.
Eskom says conditions pose major challenges in areas where infrastructure is inaccessible due to severe flooding and unsafe conditions.
The utility is working with Provincial Disaster Management to assess the extent of network and access route damage that prevents safe construction activities.
Eskom has urged customers to remain patient while response teams navigate conditions to attend to multiple faults.
The following areas were without electricity as at 09:00 on Tuesday (12 May):
Cape Metropole
- Jamestown
- Leiden, Delft
- Nomzamo
Cape Winelands/Boland
- Breerivier
- Boskloof
- Ceres
- Klapmuts
- Perdeberg
- Rawsonville municipality and surrounding farms
- Villiersdorp
Garden Route
- Meiringspoort
- Robberg
- Albertinia
- Karatara
- Riversdale
- Sedgefield
- Stilbaai
- Wilderness
Overberg/Overstrand
- Arniston
- Betty’s Bay
- Bredasdorp
- Gansbaai
- Buffelsjag
- Heidelberg
- Hermanus
- Napier
- Pringle Bay
- Riviersonderend surrounding farms
- Stanford
- Struisbaai
West Coast
- Citrusdal surrounding farms
- Noordhoek
- Vredendal
- Wellington surrounding farm areas
Breede Valley Municipality spokesperson Chad Malgas says the municipality is experiencing multiple power outages and electrical service faults across suburbs and towns throughout the municipal area, which were severely hit by the storm.
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Repair work has been severely affected by ongoing adverse weather and inaccessible road networks, he says.
The municipality is prioritising clearing areas for electrical services teams to enter, stabilise and systematically repair network outages where possible.
“The extent of damage is widespread, so our teams will be prioritising the quick wins and fixes. No stabilisation or repair will be guaranteed under these conditions, as heavy gale-force winds will continue to threaten the stability of the network,” Malgas says.
He says teams are working continuously to repair power outages and the municipality remains in frequent contact with Eskom regarding repairs in their distribution areas, including Rawsonville and De Doorns.
Touwsrivier has been temporarily repaired and remains electrified, Malgas says.
