As May marks Energy Month in South Africa, taking actionable steps toward conserving energy is crucial. The City of Cape Town encourages residents to implement simple measures to help alleviate the burden on the national electrical grid and decrease the risk of load shedding.
South Africa has experienced frequent power outages or blackouts in recent years, disrupting businesses and homes. The energy crisis has hit the Western Cape hard, prompting the government to take significant steps toward making its facilities energyresilient and protecting critical services from blackouts.
The Energy Directorate of the City of Cape Town has successfully implemented a plan to address outstanding streetlight repairs in the Mitchells Plain area. Despite facing high service requests, loadshedding, and weatherrelated issues, the City has made steady progress. ## Increase in Electricity Infrastructure Repair Service Requests Due to Vandalism and Theft
Cape Town residents urged to report sewer overflows The City of Cape Town is urging its residents to report sewer overflows immediately through official city channels such as WhatsApp and the City’s website. It is essential to report these incidents promptly during high, prolonged stages of loadshedding and heavy rain when sewer spills and overflows are more likely.
South Africa’s electricity supply has been in crisis for years, with power cuts an almost daily occurrence for many citizens. The situation has only worsened as Eskom, the country’s leading power supplier, struggles to keep up with demand. The problem is particularly acute during winter when the need for electricity skyrockets due to the colder temperatures. The newly appointed Electricity Minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has warned that this winter could be “tough” if Eskom’s grid remains as constrained as it currently is.