Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) has warned residents about the impact of recent severe lightning storms on the electricity supply.

RWCLM spokesperson Phillip Montshiwa confirmed that the intense weather since last week has placed significant strain on the electricity network, particularly affecting the small holdings areas and Mohlakeng extensions.

During the storm on December 2 alone, two pole-mounted transformers were destroyed and four cable terminators damaged. Two separate vehicle collisions also occurred – one on Wheatlands Avenue and another on School Street – which resulted in damaged electricity poles and further outages.

Montshiwa added that some of Eskom’s infrastructure was also damaged, which contributes to longer restoration times.

“Our electricity teams have been working tirelessly to restore supply as quickly as possible. However, due to the ongoing lightning activity and widespread faults, immediate restoration is not always possible. After severe lightning events, it can take up to three days to fully normalise electricity supply across all affected areas,” he said.

He further explained that while the electricity network has expanded over the past five years to support new developments, it also means more areas are now affected during outages, making rapid response more challenging.

“We humbly request patience and understanding from our residents during this period. Please be assured that our teams remain committed to restoring power safely and efficiently. We also urge communities to stay vigilant and report any illegal activities, including cable theft or vandalism, to the police or their ward councillor immediately, as these incidents also prolong outages,” Montshiwa added.

He apologised for the inconvenience and thanked residents for their co-operation.