Tzaneen communities still without power after Dec storm
Two weeks after a devastating storm on December 26, some areas in Greater Tzaneen remain without electricity, leading to community protests.
TZANEEN – Two weeks after a storm ravaged through communities in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM), on December 26, some areas are still without electricity.
As a result of frustrations which came with the power outage, some communities, which include Burgersdorp, Zhangoma and Nkowankowa Section C, took to the streets, while some protested outside Eskom offices at Nkowankowa industrial area.
This is after residents were forced to spend their Goodwill Day in darkness following power outages caused by heavy rain that occurred late that afternoon.
The heavy downpour, accompanied by lightning and strong winds, damaged homes, electricity infrastructure, churches and businesses. The storm resulted in fallen trees, road blockages and flooding in several areas.
Weddings and other events were delayed due to the damage caused at several venues.
Restoration efforts remain ongoing
On the day of the incident, GTM reported that “affected areas included the stretch between Letsitele and Tarantaalrand, where trees have fallen and are obstructing the road; the R71 near Makgoebaskloof Dam, where a tree has fallen onto the road; flooding reported along the R36 at Bridgeway village, Maake Plaza and Mhangweni village; fallen trees on roads in Agatha; and in Nkowankowa, from the power station to Mariveni, where trees are also blocking the road,” the municipality said.
GTM spokesperson Vutivi Makhubele, told the Herald that they have been working together with different stakeholders including Eskom and Mopani District Municipality to make sure they attend to the affected communities. Unfortunately the natural disaster, was beyond our control and we are trying our best to make sure that people have electricity, after transformers and electricity poles were damaged.
“Our team is working tirelessly to make sure that the issue is fixed,” she said. Meanwhile GTM together with the Gift of the Givers Foundation and the Department of Social Development, have donated food parcels to 500 households which were affected by the storm.
At the time of going to print the municipality and Eskom technicians were busy repairing electricity infrastructure.
