City addresses extended power outages in Berea

RESIDENTS in the areas of Glenwood, Morningside and Berea reported extended power outages over the course of last week.

According to Ward 31 councillor Remona Mckenzie, numerous residents reached out to her for an explanation about the unexpected power outages. “Since load-shedding has been implemented, it has been a critical issue that requires immediate intervention and attention. Load-shedding should never have been implemented as we have experienced so much devastation in our city. Residents have been without power, at times, for over 24 hours, even leading to four days,” said Mckenzie.

Mckenzie said that, despite reporting the issue promptly, there have been delays with repairs because of the number of outages, which leaves residents in a distressing situation.

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“The prolonged power outages are causing significant inconvenience and hardship for the residents who have to throw food away. It seems this has become the way of life, but it also raises concerns about the inefficiency of the resolution process. Electricity infrastructure needs to be upgraded – this issue should not be at the expense of residents. In some instances, the Electricity Department will isolate the affected substation and attempt to restore supply to the rest of the area. The maintenance teams will then arrange to replace the failed substation or MV faulty cable, however, this could take a while, depending on the damages and assessments,” said the councillor.

Mckenzie says that capital budget needs to be put in place to upgrade the infrastructure.

Municipality responds

According to the eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, Glenwood and parts of Morningside were affected by an extended outage due to a vandalised substation.

“Teams worked around the clock to ensure restoration of power. The City apologises for the inconvenience caused. It is important to note that the restoration time for such faults depends on the magnitude and complexity of the repair required. Generally, simple faults are repaired within a short span of time, ranging from three to 24 hours. However, when the damage is extensive, like in the case of a vandalised substation, the repair process takes slightly longer,” said Sisilana.

“To minimise inconvenience to our customers, the eThekwini Municipality’s Electricity Unit makes a conscious effort to alert customers about planned maintenance outages through the City’s social media platforms,” said the spokesperson.

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Sisilana says infrastructure, theft and vandalism pose significant challenges to the City, and these issues persist despite the municipality’s best efforts.

“We urge residents to reach out to us through our various communication channels, including the following: our toll-free helpline at 080 311 1111 (available 24/7) or email at electricity.faults@durban.gov.za or our WhatsApp number at 076 791 2449. Customer vigilance and cooperation will go a long way in helping us address these issues promptly,” she concluded.

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