DELMAS — Residents in Delmas are increasingly frustrated by persistent unplanned power outages that continue to disrupt daily life, with many calling for urgent intervention from the municipality and Eskom.
The outages, which often occur without warning, have affected households across several areas, particularly in the early mornings when families are preparing for work and school.
“I wake up at 04am hoping the power will be back, but most days it’s not,” said Cynthia Shongwe from Extension 3. “My children have to bathe with cold water before school, and it’s especially difficult during colder weather.”
Residents say the lack of electricity has made basic routines difficult. Parents report that children often leave home without proper meals, while others are forced to bathe using cold water.
Another parent, Gugu Mthombeni, expressed concern about the long-term impact on children’s well-being and education.
“It’s not just about being uncomfortable. The children go to school tired and frustrated. Sometimes they can’t even have breakfast because everything depends on electricity,” she said.
Beyond the immediate inconvenience, residents are also reporting financial strain due to damage to household appliances such as fridges, caused by sudden power cuts and surges when electricity is restored. For many families already struggling with the cost of living, replacing or repairing appliances is not an option.
Residents say they are unsure whether the outages are caused by load shedding, infrastructure faults or municipal distribution challenges, and that the lack of communication has only worsened the situation. Many claim they are left “in the dark” about when power will be restored.
Eskom: Outages caused by vandalism
Following a media inquiry from the Highveld Chronicle, Eskom confirmed that the outages experienced in Delmas are not related to load shedding or load reduction, but are largely due to unplanned disruptions.
In its response, Eskom stated that “the direct and indirect causes have been the ongoing theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure, which has severely compromised the reliability and stability of electricity supply in the area.”
The utility added that such criminal activities often result in both visible and hidden faults, leading to repeated outages and longer restoration times.
Eskom further stated that the outages are not linked to maintenance issues or capacity constraints, but rather to infrastructure damage caused by illegal activities.
The power utility said its technicians respond swiftly when outages occur, but ongoing vandalism continues to delay restoration efforts.
Eskom also noted that it is working closely with the local municipality and community stakeholders to address the issue, while urging residents to report any suspicious activities that may threaten electricity infrastructure.
The municipality confirmed that it is engaging with Eskom regarding the situation.
Despite these assurances, residents say they are hoping for improved security of infrastructure, better communication and a more reliable electricity supply.
