The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality confirms that restoring electricity supply to affected areas in Summerstrand and Walmer remains an immediate operational priority. Senior municipal leadership, engineers and contractors are on site attending to the collapse of infrastructure along the Chelsea, Arlington, Walmer, Summerstrand transmission line, with restoration work receiving continuous operational oversight from the Municipality’s Electricity and Energy Department.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Electricity and Energy, Cllr Ziyanda Mnqokoyi, is currently on site with municipal technical teams and contractors monitoring the progress of restoration work. Excavations have been completed and replacement poles have been delivered to site. Teams will proceed with the erection of the poles today, after which the stringing of the transmission lines will commence. All available technical and operational resources have been mobilised to restore the network safely, in accordance with required engineering standards, and as quickly as possible.
To provide limited relief to affected residents while repair work continues, the electricity network in Summerstrand has been divided into four supply groups to allow controlled back feeding of electricity supply. Each group will receive electricity for approximately three hours, followed by a nine-hour period without power while supply rotates to other groups. This rotational supply arrangement will remain in place while the damaged infrastructure is restored.
Due to the configuration of the electricity network in the affected area, it is unfortunately not technically possible to back feed electricity to Walmer at this stage. The Municipality acknowledges the significant inconvenience experienced by residents and businesses and sincerely apologises for the disruption caused. We recognise the impact that electricity outages have on households, businesses and essential daily activities and appreciate the patience and cooperation demonstrated by the community while restoration work continues.
Electricity infrastructure across Nelson Mandela Bay is managed through established engineering lifecycle management systems and statutory governance frameworks that guide how infrastructure is monitored, maintained, strengthened and replaced. The Electricity and Energy Department operates within the Municipality’s Trading Services portfolio and within governance and financial frameworks aligned with National Treasury requirements applicable to metropolitan municipalities.
In line with these obligations, the Municipality has initiated a structured technical review of strategic electricity infrastructure corridors across the metro, including the affected transmission route, to inform targeted strengthening, refurbishment and renewal interventions across the network. This work forms part of the Municipality’s ongoing infrastructure renewal programme aimed at improving system resilience and reducing the risk of similar disruptions in future.
These interventions shall be incorporated into the Municipality’s legally prescribed planning and budgeting processes, including the Integrated Development Plan and the Medium Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework. Infrastructure investment and asset renewal are undertaken in compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 and the Municipal Systems Act, 2000, which regulate municipal budgeting, infrastructure planning and responsible asset management.
Through these governance frameworks, the Municipality is actively prioritising the refurbishment, strengthening and replacement of critical electricity and other Municipal infrastructure to protect the long-term reliability and sustainability of electricity supply and services in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The Municipality remains committed to transparency, responsible governance and accountability as work continues to restore supply and strengthen the electricity network.
Further updates will be provided as restoration work progresses.
