Garden Route residents are struggling to survive as a blackout that started more than a fortnight ago continues to cripple daily life and small businesses. By Thursday afternoon, many residents had entered their 16th day without reliable electricity or water after repeated incidents of cable theft.
The severe weather that battered towns along the south-eastern coast of the Western Cape earlier this month has claimed at least 11 lives across the province, with deaths linked to flooding, fallen trees, and other storm-related incidents. According to the Eskom website, technicians have been working around the clock to restore electricity supply to customers in the Garden Route.
Cable Theft and Vandalism
Eskom spokesperson Kyle Cookson said that while electricity had been restored in some areas, places such as the Crags were still without power due to cable theft and vandalism. “It is the second such incident in less than two weeks,” Cookson said. “At this stage, the estimated time for electricity restoration remains unavailable.”
Impact on Businesses
Businesses said they were bleeding money and battling to keep their doors open as the blackout and water outages drag on. Anne Laires, who owns a dairy farm, farm stall, bakery, restaurant, and accommodation business in the Crags, said the outages have affected every aspect of her operation. “We are an agricultural dairy operation, so it affects everything,” Laires said.
Some of the ways the blackout has affected residents and businesses include:
- Food spoilage due to lack of refrigeration
- Increased costs for paraffin and gas
- Difficulty cooking and accessing basic necessities
- Financial losses for businesses due to closures and equipment damage
Experts warned that insurance claims for damaged appliances would only be paid out if residents had the correct insurance cover. As the situation continues to unfold, residents are left wondering how much longer they can survive without reliable electricity and water.
