Delays in powering up Richards Bay suburb after severe thunderstorm

Richards Bay residents have been urged to practice patience amid ongoing electricity outages across the city after yesterday’s (Tuesday) thunderstorm.

At about 4pm on Tuesday, several suburbs were plunged into darkness when lightning struck.

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Affected suburbs included Brackenham, Wildenweide, Mandlazini, Mzingazi, Meerensee, Ngwelezane and eSikhaleni.

According to uMhlathuze Deputy Mayor and Ward 2 Councillor Christo Botha, the issue affecting Meerensee and Mzingazi was that a substation in Pienkie Pool was struck by lightning.

With residents given an estimated time of eight hours to restoration of electricity, by 8am today (Wednesday), parts had been restored while some streets in the suburb were still in darkness.

While some residents’ electricity should be restored by 10am (those closest to the golf estate), others will only be switched back on around 4pm.

Mandlazini’s power was restored during the night on Tuesday and, while other suburbs’ electricity also returned during the night, parts of the city remained without come Wednesday morning.

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