ETHEKWINI Municipality says it is intensifying its ageing infrastructure replacement programme in Botha’s Hill following a series of electricity outages that have placed pressure on local businesses and residents.

The municipality’s response comes after businesses in the area raised concerns about repeated electricity and water disruptions, saying the outages were affecting their operations and adding to already rising business costs.

In its response, eThekwini attributed the electricity interruptions experienced in Botha’s Hill over the past month to a combination of factors, including infrastructure disruptions caused by inclement weather and persistent cable theft.

Also read: Botha’s Hill businesses struggle as power, water outages continue

Municipal spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila said some of the outages had left residents in Botha’s Hill and surrounding communities without electricity for extended periods.

According to Mzila, the disruptions had also placed additional pressure on the electricity network and municipal teams working to restore supply.

“The Municipality would like to clarify that for the past month, the Botha’s Hill area has been affected by a series of power outages caused by various factors, ranging from infrastructure interruptions linked to inclement weather to persistent incidents of cable theft,” said Mzila.

He said the Electricity and Energy Directorate would intensify its ageing infrastructure replacement programme in the area.

The programme will focus on replacing vulnerable infrastructure and reducing the use of copper materials, which the municipality says are particularly susceptible to theft and vandalism.

“These interventions are aimed at strengthening the resilience of the local electricity network, reducing the impact of criminal activity and helping to ensure a more consistent and reliable electricity supply for residents,” said Mzila.

Businesses say outages are affecting operations

The municipal response follows concerns raised by Botha’s Hill business owners about the impact of unreliable municipal services on the local tourism and hospitality sector.

The Pot and Kettle owner Heidi Devitt said intermittent electricity was making it increasingly difficult to operate her business, particularly amid rising costs and a difficult economy.

Devitt said the business had recently experienced four consecutive days without electricity and that businesses had received limited information about when supply would be restored.

She said businesses were being forced to rely on generators, gas and solar power, adding to their operating costs.

Jane Candow, chairperson of the 1000 Hills B&B Association, said the problems extended beyond electricity, with repeated water outages also affecting tourism businesses.

She said power failures could result in cold geysers, spoiled food and restaurants being unable to prepare certain meals, while water interruptions created additional challenges around showers, toilets and hygiene.

Also read: Residents demand answers over rates and billing increases

Candow also raised concerns about lengthy repair times, saying one electricity fault had taken three weeks to resolve.

The business owners have called for longer-term solutions to the area’s infrastructure problems, rather than repeated temporary repairs.

They have also raised concerns about the financial burden on small tourism businesses, including commercial electricity and water charges, municipal rates, licensing, compliance costs and other regulatory expenses.

Candow questioned the rates charged to small B&Bs and called for greater consistency in the treatment and regulation of formally registered accommodation establishments and short-term accommodation providers.

The municipality’s response specifically addresses the causes of the electricity outages and outlines planned infrastructure interventions. The business owners’ concerns, however, extend beyond power supply to include water interruptions, communication about outages, repair times and the broader cost of operating tourism businesses in the area.

For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter here