Snowstorm cuts power in Eastern Cape as Eskom battles access woes
South Africa's weather forecaster warned that heavy snowfall is likely in parts of the Eastern Cape.
Snowfall, icy winds, and freezing temperatures have disrupted electricity supply in parts of South Africa's Eastern Cape, according to Eskom, the country's primary electricity supplier. The Eastern Cape, along with other regions, witnessed snowfall on Monday, and experts predict the wintry conditions will last through Tuesday. South Africa's weather forecaster, Saws, has issued a level 6 warning for snowfall disruption in the Chris Hani District, Senqu, Elundini, and Matatiele municipalities in the Eastern Cape.
The heavy snowfall is expected to cause significant disruptions, leading to major traffic delays and temporary isolation of some communities. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena revealed that access challenges are hampering the restoration process in Joe Gqabi and Alfred Nzo districts. "Communities are urged to remain patient with electricity supply restoration as our technicians are facing challenges due to adverse weather conditions," Mokwena cautioned.
Eskom has urged residents across the Eastern Cape to exercise extreme caution as hazardous weather conditions, including snowfall, extremely low temperatures, and strong winds, are affecting parts of the province. Technicians are employing various channels such as the Alfred Chatbot, MyEskom Customer App, USSD self-service platform, the Eskom Contact Centre, and email to assist residents in logging faults and seeking updates on the restoration process.
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