UPDATE 1: Eskom Power outage I 18 May 2026 @ 11:30
Thank you to our dedicated operational and technical staff, who have been clearing up debris and trees across all towns and assisting Eskom and other partners with repairs and access clearing.
Eskom continues with infrastructure restoration operations following the storm damage experience across the Western Cape.
This is the latest update from Eskom sector manager:
Betty’s Bay / Pringle Bay area
Day 9 without power in Pringle Bay, Mooiuitsig and Betty’s Bay.
The team worked on the damaged cable in Betty’s Bay yesterday but was unfortunately unable to restore power. We’re expecting the cable jointers to repair the one fault today and then the other faults can be repaired. Unfortunately no ETR yet.
Gansbaai-Stanford farms
The Stanford team will continue to tackle the two 11kV lines (F1 and F3) to restore power to the farms and Baardskeerdersbos.
The Bredasdorp team has also contact the Municipality for the digger loader to assist at Buffeljagsbaai.
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and Bosplasie
Team is on site and focussing on Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. No ETR yet.
Thanks to all the residents that shared visible faults.
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Mid-afternoon update:
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
17 May 1026 @ 15:30
Stanford-Gansbaai farms (Eskom direct):
The team working in the Stanford–Gansbaai farms and Baardskeerdersbos area was busy on Wortelgat Road near Stanford just after 12:00.
They will try to restore all the Stanford’s 11kV lines today. For now Eskom doesn’t need a digger loader, and the digger that was originally requested at the Buffeljagsbaai turnoff turned back to the Gansbaai municipal yard.
There is still no new update for Bosplasie and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, as the teams are still busy on the Stanford lines.
Betty’s Bay area (Eskom direct):
We have not received any other updates on the electricity situation in Betty’s Bay and surrounding areas, as the cable team has not yet arrived in Disa Street.
Mid-afternoon update 2:
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
17 May 1026 @ 15:45
Betty’s Bay/Pringle Bay area:
The cable team has arrived in Disa Road, Betty’s Bay and they have identified one fault so far.
The Municipality is required to point out water and other services to Eskom to ensure it is not damaged during excavations.
Since there are multiple possible problems no ETR is available yet.
Evening update:
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY: Gansbaai-Stanford farms
17 May 1026 @ 18:00
Eskom confirmed that they could only manage to restore one of the three 11kV lines that provide electricity to Stanford, Gansbaai farms, and Baardskeerdersbos today.
So at least the farmers on the Wortelgat Road (Stanford F2) have electricity tonight.
The team will retire for the night to regroup and continue tomorrow to tackle the other two 11kV lines (F1 and F3).
The Municipality will once again organise a digger loader to be available at Stanford Substation at 10:00, as requested by the sector manager.
At this stage, it looks promising that they will be able to bring in a second team to try and speed things up as they requested digger loader assistance in the Hemel-en-Aande Valley at 10:30 to restore power to Bosplasie and the valley.
Eskom will confirm tomorrow morning regarding the third team, which will be coming from Bredasdorp to assist at Buffeljagsbaai.
Evening update 2:
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY: Betty’s Bay-Pringle Bay area
17 May 1026 @ 20:00
Eskom teams are still working on the faulty cable in Betty’s Bay.
Thank you to Ward 10 Councillor Theresa Els, who delivered food to the team on behalf of a caring community member.
The Overstrand Municipality digger also remains on site should it be needed.
At this stage, there is still no estimated time for restoration, and we cannot confirm whether power to all affected areas will be restored tonight.
We kindly ask community members not to disturb the workers on site. While residents understandably want updates, stopping the teams to ask questions takes their attention away from the repair work.
Please allow them to concentrate so they can continue working as quickly and safely as possible.
Evening update 3:
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY: Betty’s Bay-Pringle Bay area
17 May 1026 @ 20:45
Eskom has just informed the Ward 10 Councillor that they will not be able to continue with repairs tonight.
Unfortunately, the cable jointers needed to fix the faulty cable have advised that they will not be coming through tonight, as they got caught up with a fault in Worcester that is taking much longer to repair than initially thought.
They will return tomorrow to complete the repairs.
Evening update 3a:
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY: Betty’s Bay-Pringle Bay area
17 May 1026 @ 21:00
Apologies: Eskom is still onsite in Betty’s Bay.
They are going to try to pick up more households, but unfortunately not everyone and/or all the areas.
The rest remain as per the 20:45 update:
The cable jointers who must fix the faulty cable got caught up with a fault in Worcester that is taking much longer to repair than initially thought.
They will return tomorrow.
