Residents across several parts of Mbombela are facing a dark start to the day as the City of Mbombela (CoM) battles a significant fault in the electrical grid.

CoM spokesperson Joseph Ngala has confirmed that a 33 000V (33kV) overhead line is down, causing a widespread power outage.

The municipal technical department is currently on site to assess the damage and begin the repair and restoration process.

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Affected areas include Valencia, Orchards, KaMagugu, Nellsville, Steiltes and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Ngala said the municipality is prioritising the repair but noted that it is a complex operation requiring specific logistics.

“We are currently arranging the necessary resources and materials to carry out the repairs. At this stage, there is no estimated restoration time,” Ngala said.

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He also extended an apology to the community for the inconvenience caused by the unexpected blackout.

“While crews work to restore the grid, the CoM has issued a stern safety warning to the public. Residents are urged to treat all electrical cables and installations as live at all times. Touching or approaching downed lines can be fatal, and extreme caution is required in the affected areas,” he said.

Ngala added that further updates will be provided as progress is made on the line.