Two transmission towers collapsed in Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday, leading to widespread power outages and water disruptions affecting businesses and residents. The municipality is spending R10 million on repairs, with a revised 10-day restoration timeline. Community efforts have supported vulnerable individuals during the crisis.
On Thursday, two rusted 132kV transmission towers on the Bethelsdorp-Greenbushes powerline collapsed in Nelson Mandela Bay, plunging large parts of Gqeberha into darkness and disrupting water supplies to dozens of communities. The incident, the second major infrastructure failure in over a year following a similar collapse of four pylons in August 2024, has raised serious questions about maintenance failures.
The Nelson Mandela Bay metro attributed the collapse to vandalism, adverse weather, and rust, though political figures like DA MPL Retief Odendaal and ACDP councillor Lance Grootboom blamed neglect and understaffing. Odendaal stated, 'The pylons in question have been severely compromised due to a lack of maintenance,' calling for an electrical services master plan. Grootboom added, 'This is a clear sign of neglect,' noting the failure to replace retired skilled workers.
Restoration efforts are underway, with contractors excavating foundations over the weekend. By Sunday, four new poles were erected and two connected, revising the initial 14-day timeline to 10 days. Eskom technicians have joined the repair teams. The metro implemented a rotational supply of three hours on and nine hours off, but it has been inconsistent, leaving some areas without power.
Water pump stations, lacking backup generators, halted supplies, prompting 23 water trucks and assistance from Gift of the Givers. Businesses, including Sweet Thing Meringues, reported operating at 60-70% capacity using solar power, with owners Julie Coetzee and Briony Sparg highlighting job losses and relocation costs. 'Basic services like water and electricity should not be optional extras,' said Coetzee.
In Summerstrand, residents rallied to power 11-year-old Abulele Nontshiza's ventilator after outages overwhelmed his family's backups. Beverly Murray coordinated community support, including a generator from technician Jannie Hurter. At Huis Louisa Myburgh old age home, head Helen Fourie noted risks to emergency alarms and meal preparations, with locals like James Livingstone donating water.
The chamber's Denise van Huyssteen urged collaboration with Eskom for maintenance, citing repeated outages since 2024. Mayor Babalwa Lobishe emphasized ongoing water deliveries to affected areas.
