Durban — Eskom in KwaZulu-Natal has made considerable progress in restoring electricity after heavy rains and snowfall left several areas without power.
In an update on Tuesday, Eskom KZN spokesperson Joyce Zingoni said technicians were still working tirelessly to repair faults caused by the heavy rain and snowfall that affected the province over the weekend.
Areas still severely impacted are Umgeni, Bulwer, Ixopo, Estcourt, Ladysmith, Colenso, Bergville, Nottingham Road, Mooi River, Umgeni, Kokstad, Underberg and Kamberg.
Zingoni said much progress had been made, with all high-voltage lines back online: “85% of the outages have been cleared to date and technicians are giving all faults the utmost attention.”
“However, there is no estimated time of restoration of all affected areas due to the widespread nature of the faults. Eskom appeals for patience from our customers as restoration may take longer than usual.”
In an update on Monday, Zingoni said 75% of the outages were cleared in accessible areas, and technicians were on standby to attend to faults in areas where access was being hampered by road closures.
She said helicopter patrols had assisted in identifying the nature of the faults and where they were located.
Customers are reminded to report faults or damaged infrastructure to Eskom’s customer service channels, which include the MyEskom Customer App, Alfred the Chatbot, and the Eskom Contact Centre (08600 ESKOM / 37566).
Meanwhile, KZN Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi has praised disaster response teams, first aid responders, social partners, and all government agencies for their swift action following the snowstorm that hit the Midlands on Friday and Saturday.
The teams worked tirelessly throughout the weekend under challenging conditions to reach stranded motorists and provide relief, preventing what could have been a mass casualty event, he said.
Buthelezi also extended his condolences to the family of Nozibele Nzonzo, 39, who died on Saturday after being exposed to extreme cold while stuck in a taxi caught up in the snowstorm.
Cogta spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila urged motorists to drive safely now that all routes were reopened.
The department also alerted communities downstream of the Tugela River catchment areas to potential flooding due to snow melting in the highlands.
“Particularly with schools closed, parents are advised to ensure that children do not play near unguarded large bodies of water, especially rivers and dams,” Mzila said.
Disaster management teams will continue to monitor areas along the Tugela River, from Ladysmith to Msinga.
Water safety tips:
- Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters.
- Stay off bridges over fast-moving water.
- Determine your best protection based on flood type.
- Evacuate if instructed to do so.
- Move to higher ground or a higher floor.
- Stay where you are.
What to do if you are under a flood warning:
- Find safe shelter immediately.
- Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters. Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
- Remember, just 15cm of moving water can knock you down, and 30cm can sweep your vehicle away.
- Stay off bridges over fast-moving water.
Depending on the type of flooding:
- Evacuate if instructed to do so.
- Move to higher ground or a higher floor.
- Stay where you are.
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Daily News