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Power outages plague Pretoria North residents
Pretoria North has been grappling with a series of unrelenting power outages over the past few weeks, leaving frustrated residents concerned about the reliability of the electricity supply.
With more than 100 complaints received by the Ward 2 councillor, the issue is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Residents have reported extended power cuts, some lasting several hours.
This situation has not only disrupted people’s daily routines but also posed serious challenges for local businesses and essential services.
Many have expressed anger and desperation, pointing to the lack of communication from authorities regarding the reasons behind the outages and the expected duration of the disruptions.
“I’ve lived here for so many years now, and I’ve never seen it this bad,” lamented Thabo Mokoena, a long-time Pretoria North resident.
“It’s affecting everything, from cooking dinner and going by your day. Every time the power goes out, you don’t even know when it’s going to come back. It’s unacceptable.”
Residents are particularly concerned about the implications for healthcare, as power outages severely impact the use of medical equipment and the ability to provide the necessary care.
House Hermon manager Lize Strauss said it’s disastrous for the residents.
“One of our residents who is wheelchair-bound, whose room is on the first floor, could only get to her bed on Friday at 22:00 when the power came back on.
“She is too scared to have us carry her up the stairs in her chair, so she preferred to sit in the lounge until the power came back on,” said Strauss.
She mentioned that the centre obtained quotes to connect the lift servicing the two upper floors on a generator, which will amount to around R300 000, which is a lot of money for them.
“The kitchen is also impacted as we have to cook for 100 residents and could be in the middle of preparing meat in the ovens.
“All residents with wheelchairs are in a bind and residents with walking frames are at a huge risk of falling on the stairs if they’re not assisted up or down,” said Strauss.
“My mother is on oxygen, and every time the power goes out, I have to scramble to find a backup solution,” said Sipho Ndlovu, whose family has been heavily affected.
“We’re living in fear of what could happen if this continues,” she said.
The lack of communication from local authorities compounds the problem. Residents noted that updates regarding the outages have been sparse, with many only learning about them after they’ve begun.
The outages have also affected local security companies.
Cobra Tact Ops owner Peter Cornelissen said during power outages, it’s difficult to gain access to their clients’ premises.
“During the power outages, you don’t know if there’s a thief in the backyard, you can use a torch but you hardly see anything.
“It’s a bit frustrating for us too, because the battery for the alarm system only lasts for a certain period and if the power is out for like three hours, we can’t have access to the houses,” said Cornelissen.
Ward 2 councillor Quentin Meyer has stepped in to address the situation in response to the growing outcry about the power issue.
Meyer said he has received over 100 complaints in almost three days, highlighting the urgency of the matter.
“We are actively working with the relevant authorities to find out what is causing this issue.
“We understand the frustration and the impact this has on our residents, and we are committed to providing answers and solutions,” said Meyer.
He added that some of the issues contributing to the power outages are long trees on electricity lines.
He emphasised that the power outages are not only a local issue but are indicative of broader infrastructure challenges.
“Our ageing infrastructure is struggling to cope with the demands of our growing population.
“All concerns are directed to relevant departments in the Tshwane metro.”
While Meyer acknowledged the current struggles, he also urged residents to remain patient as solutions are sought.
“I always escalate all issues to the metro and push for more immediate responses, the team assigned to fix such problems works hard and we will keep the community updated as we move forward.”
