Overstrand Municipality formally lodged a complaint with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 21 August 2026 regarding the persistent and unacceptable electricity supply interruptions experienced in Eskom-supplied areas within the municipal boundaries.
The complaint relates to communities including Onrus, Vermont, Hawston, Fisherhaven, Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay, Rooiels and other areas, where residents and businesses have endured frequent power outages, prolonged restoration periods and recurring infrastructure failures.
These areas fall under Eskom’s direct supply network. Overstrand Municipality is therefore not responsible for the operation, maintenance or repair of the electricity infrastructure serving these communities.
According to the Mayoral Committee Member for Infrastructure Services, Councillor Clinton Lerm, the municipality has exhausted numerous avenues in an effort to secure improved service delivery from Eskom.
“Council has repeatedly sought intervention on behalf of affected residents through various channels, including submitting a handover petition to the Minister earlier this year and engaging in numerous meetings with Eskom. While these engagements were generally well received, they unfortunately did not result in any meaningful improvement to the situation. Lodging a formal complaint with NERSA was therefore considered a necessary final step in seeking accountability and relief for our communities,” said Councillor Lerm.
The impact of these prolonged outages extends far beyond inconvenience. Elderly residents are particularly vulnerable when power outages continue for days at a time.
Communication becomes difficult when cell phone batteries and backup systems fail, medicines that require refrigeration are placed at risk, and many residents who work remotely are unable to continue their daily activities.
Reliable electricity is an essential service that directly affects the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of our communities.
The outage data reveals the extent of the problem. In the Wards where Eskom supplies electricity directly to the community, more than 150 outages were experienced in the past 3 years with more than 100 cumulative days of power interruptions.
Reliable electricity infrastructure is fundamental to economic activity, business confidence, public safety and service delivery. Continued network failures place unnecessary strain on households, tourism establishments, small businesses and other economic sectors that depend on a stable electricity supply.
Overstrand Municipality therefore calls on Eskom and NERSA to prioritise investment in network maintenance and upgrades, improve response and restoration times, and ensure that residents in Eskom-supplied areas receive a reliable and sustainable electricity service.
