Article re-cap
- Gale force winds and torrential rain have caused widespread power outages across Cape Town under an Orange Level weather warning.
- Electricity restoration in areas like Bloubergstrand and the wider Cape Town region is delayed because heavy rain and strong winds make repairs unsafe.
- The storm has caused significant infrastructure damage in districts including Durbanville, Vredekloof, and Ravensmead.
- Residents in Eskom supply zones must contact the national utility provider directly as City teams cannot intervene on Eskom infrastructure.
Gale-force winds and torrential rain have caused widespread power outages across Cape 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 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 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's call centres are experiencing a high number of service requests. To prevent the system from buckling under duplicate tickets, Alderman Limberg requested that residents use only one reporting channel when reporting faults.
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.
This follows earlier local coverage of Yellow Level 4 rain warning issued for Cape Town.
Frequently asked questions
Which Cape Town areas are affected by the power outages?
Power outages have been reported across multiple districts including Durbanville, Vredekloof, Ravensmead, Claremont, Plumstead, Bergvliet, Bo-Kaap, Observatory, Strand, and Helena Heights. Eskom supply zones are also experiencing outages but residents there must contact Eskom directly for updates.
Why are electricity teams unable to restore power immediately?
The City states it is unsafe for electricity teams to carry out restoration work during heavy rain, strong winds, or flooding conditions. Repairs will be undertaken as quickly as possible but only when conditions become safe for workers to operate.
What should residents do while experiencing power outages?
The City advises residents to keep mobile phones and backup devices such as Uninterruptible Power Supply units fully charged. Residents should report faults through one channel only to prevent the call centre system from becoming overloaded with duplicate tickets.
How can residents report electricity faults during the outages?
Use only one reporting channel when contacting the City to prevent duplicate tickets from overwhelming the call centres. Residents in Eskom-supply zones must contact the national utility provider directly, as City teams cannot intervene on Eskom infrastructure.
Source: themercury.co.za
