Article re-cap
- Gale force winds and torrential rain have caused widespread power outages across Cape Town.
- Infrastructure damage from the storm has been reported in Durbanville, Vredekloof, and Ravensmead.
- The City of Cape Town is delaying electricity repairs until weather conditions are safe for emergency teams.
- Residents in Eskom supply zones must contact the national utility provider directly to report faults.
- The City advises residents to keep mobile phones and Uninterruptible Power Supply units fully charged during outages.
Gale force winds and torrential rain have caused widespread power outages across Cape and Town as an Orange Level weather warning remains in effect.
Emergency electricity teams are currently battling multi hazard weather conditions to restore the grid. The storm has caused significant damage to infrastructure in several districts, including Durbanville, Vredekloof, and Ravensmead.
Other affected areas include Claremont, Plumstead, Bergvliet, Bo Kaap, Observatory, Strand, and Helena Heights. The City of Cape Town has issued a plea for patience because the physical danger posed by the storm is delaying repairs.
Xanthea Limberg, Mayco member for Energy, said it is unsafe for teams to carry out electricity work during heavy rain, strong winds, or flooding. She stated that electricity restoration will be undertaken as quickly as possible, but only when conditions are safe.
The City's call centres are experiencing a high number of service requests. Alderman Limberg requested that residents use only one reporting channel when reporting faults to prevent the system from buckling under duplicate tickets.
Residents in Eskom supply zones were reminded to contact the national utility provider directly as City teams cannot intervene on Eskom infrastructure. The City advised residents to keep mobile phones and backup devices, such as Uninterruptible Power Supply units, fully charged during the outages.
Frequently asked questions
Why are power repairs being delayed during the storm?
According to Xanthea Limberg, Mayco member for Energy, it is unsafe for electricity teams to work during heavy rain, strong winds, or flooding. The physical danger posed by the storm means repairs will only proceed when conditions are safe enough for workers.
Which areas of Cape Town are affected by the power outages?
Significant damage has occurred in Durbanville, Vredekloof, and Ravensmead, with other affected areas including Claremont, Plumstead, Bergvliet, Bo Kaap, Observatory, Strand, and Helena Heights across the wider Cape Town region.
What should residents do if they live in an Eskom supply zone?
Residents in Eskom supply zones must contact the national utility provider directly, as City of Cape Town teams cannot intervene on Eskom infrastructure. The City's call centres cannot help with Eskom-supplied areas.
How can residents report power faults without overloading the system?
The City requests that residents use only one reporting channel when reporting faults to prevent duplicate tickets from causing the call centre system to buckle under the high volume of service requests.
What preparations should residents make during the outages?
The City advises residents to keep mobile phones and backup devices fully charged during outages. Uninterruptible Power Supply units are recommended as backup devices to maintain essential power during the extended power disruptions.
Source: bloubergstrand.co.za
