Tornado damages power infrustructure to Ballito and surrounds

Authorities are reporting severe storm damage to the Driefontein substation that could take up to four days to repair.

Ballito’s Ward 30 Cllr Jack Abrahams said two pylons went down yesterday afternoon when a tornado left a trail of destruction in the wider Tongaat area.

“Eskom is sending a team from Empangeni to begin repairs, but due to the extent of the damage it could take up to four days to repair them,” said Abrahams.

However, he said the KwaDukuza municipality electricity department was working on an alternative arrangement.

“There may be an option of transferring the load through the new Gizenga substation at Groutville, which would enable power to be restored before the Driefontein substation has been repaired. Even if this is approved, we are unlikely to see power restored today,” he said.

Ballito’s Ward 6 Cllr Tammy Colley urged residents to join the relief efforts by donating to assist those displaced in the wider Tongaat areas.

She said the municipality were doing everything they could to get power restored as soon as humanly possible.

“While its understandable difficult to operate without power, lets do what we always do as a resilient community, help one another in any way we can.”

Areas without power include Ballito, Collisheen and surrounding farms, Simbithi, Nkobongo, Foxhill and Brettenwood.

An appeal has gone out to the community to support relief efforts by donating non-perishable food, essentials for babies and children, blankets, bottled water, and toiletries.

Drop-off points confirmed so far are at the Tongaat Child Welfare offices, Litchi Orchard, La Montagne Hotel, and the Marine Walk Shopping Centre in Umdloti.