The Tshwane metro has appealed to residents for understanding as municipal teams scramble to respond to widespread service interruptions caused by the heavy rainstorm that began on Sunday and continued relentlessly into Monday.

The severe weather, marked by thunderstorms, high winds, hail, and ongoing rainfall, has left multiple areas across the metro facing electricity faults, water interruptions, road blockages, and waste-collection delays.

According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the unstable conditions, together with forecasts of more storms ahead, are significantly slowing repair operations.

He said the safety of workers remains a major constraint as the storm continues to escalate.

“The prolonged and intensifying weather conditions are disrupting essential municipal services across Tshwane.

“While all our operational teams are fully activated, the ongoing storm activity continues to limit safe fieldwork,” Mashigo said.

He stated that severe electricity faults have been recorded in multiple regions, with lightning strikes, uprooted lamp poles, fallen trees, flying debris, and hail damage causing widespread outages.

Mashigo added that technicians cannot safely repair live components, climb poles, or operate heavy equipment in such conditions.

He emphasised that full restoration will only resume once conditions stabilise.

“The continued rainfall and high winds make it unsafe for our artisans to work on live infrastructure. Restoration efforts will resume at full capacity as soon as it is safe to do so,” he said.

Water infrastructure has also taken a knock.

Mashigo said excessive rainfall, waterlogged ground conditions, and hail accumulation have caused pipe bursts, pump-station flooding, and potential temporary water-quality concerns.

He explained that this could result in low water pressure or intermittent supply interruptions in certain areas.

“Department of Water teams remain on standby and are responding where possible while monitoring system performance.”

Roads and waste services are facing similar setbacks.

Fallen trees, branches, poles, soil washaways, and storm debris have left many roads partially obstructed or inaccessible.

Mashigo said these conditions, in turn, slow down waste collection where vehicles cannot pass through flooded or debris-covered streets or reach landfill sites affected by storm damage.

“Regional Operations Coordination (ROC) Teams have been deployed throughout the metro to clear obstructions, reopen routes, and restore access for traffic, emergency vehicles, and waste-management operations.”

However, Mashigo warned that delays are unavoidable in severely impacted locations.

Despite the disruptions, he assured residents that the city is committed to restoring normal services as soon as weather conditions permit.

“We urge the public to remain vigilant, avoid flooded or debris-covered areas, and continue reporting service-related incidents through official channels. Further updates will be provided as progress is made,” he said.

As storms are expected to continue, the metro asked communities to prioritise safety and remain patient as teams navigate difficult and hazardous working conditions.

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