AMID frequent power and water outages being experienced by residents of Ward 33, the eThekwini Municipality says it is working around the clock to complete repairs.

In her monthly report, Ward 33 councillor Fran Kristopher said the month saw multiple outages due to equipment damage, MV cable damage and compromised infrastructure. This was echoed by Umbilo resident Louise Hlengwa, who said residents are struggling with the frequency of the outages.

“It’s almost as if it’s every other day,” said Hlengwa. “In this heat that we are currently experiencing, it is unbearable. There has to be a way for the municipality to intervene to stop the outages from happening so often.”

The municipality said the city is currently experiencing an increased volume of power outages due to extremely hot weather conditions. “We understand the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience during this challenging time. Our dedicated teams from the Energy Management Directorate are actively working to restore electricity supply to all affected areas across the city. We are systematically addressing each fault to ensure a swift and efficient resolution.”

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Kristopher explained that a 24-hour estimated timeframe is provided to allow teams to switch, assess, repair and restore power. “When an outage occurs, substations switch off as a safety mechanism. When switching staff are dispatched, some areas are restored in less than two hours. There are, however, times when the fault directly affects a specific area, which results in delays while teams work on repairs,” said Kristopher.

She added that the current heatwaves are compounding the strain on already ageing infrastructure. “I encourage residents to save energy by switching off all non-essential appliances and doing their part to help stabilise the grid,” she said.

The municipality again urged residents to remain patient, saying: “We kindly request that the public bear with us as we navigate these challenges. Your understanding and co-operation are invaluable as we strive to restore electricity supply as quickly as possible.”

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