ELECTRICITY OUTAGES DROP AS NETWORK STABILITY IMPROVES
Published: June 24, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
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The hard work, improved supervision and enhanced coordination have led to improved stability of the electricity distribution network across the Metro. This is evidenced by the significant decrease in the number of outages attended to in June, which stood at 173 compared to 330 recorded in May.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Councillor Babalwa Lobishe, has commended municipal staff and contractors for the satisfactory work they have been doing.
"Although we are not yet where we want to be, I am pleased with the pace, coordination and results. Last month's severe weather conditions resulted in serious damage to our electricity infrastructure, which required a war-room approach. As part of the recovery plan, progress has been made and we will continue to monitor the situation," said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
The Executive Mayor also warned those who continue to vandalise, steal and connect illegally to the electricity network, saying these activities are causing significant frustration to the public and negatively affecting the City's economy.
The increased number of outages was due to severe weather conditions that caused extensive damage to the electricity network, including collapsed poles, damaged overhead lines, flooded cable routes and damage to other electrical infrastructure.
According to the municipality's fault records, a total of 173 power outage incidents have been recorded across the Metro since 1 June 2026.
These comprise 52 underground cable faults, seven theft and vandalism-related incidents, 30 low-voltage (LV) faults and 93 overhead network faults.
The post-severe weather assessment identified the following contributing factors:
- Theft and vandalism of electrical infrastructure, including cable theft and damage to network equipment.
- Failures on ageing overhead and underground infrastructure.
- Localised equipment failures and third-party damage to municipal assets.
The municipality continues to monitor network performance and undertake repairs and maintenance to restore network reliability.
Executive Mayor Lobishe said a similar approach is currently being implemented by the Infrastructure and Engineering Directorate in relation to water and sanitation services following the severe weather experienced in May 2026.
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