Eastern Cape torrential weather causes blackouts in these areas

Heavy storms in the Eastern Cape have led to major power outages and road closures, with Eskom confirming affected areas and SAWS issuing a high-level weather warning.

Torrential weather conditions have escalated across the Eastern Cape as of Tuesday, leading to widespread power outages and serious travel disruptions.

Eskom confirms power outages in these Eastern Cape areas

Heavy rain, strong winds, and snowfall that began on Monday have continued into Tuesday, damaging infrastructure and prompting warnings from both Eskom and the South African Weather Service (SAWS).

Eskom has confirmed that electricity supply to around 300,000 customers has been interrupted.

The power outages have hit several areas across the province, including Mthatha, Qumbu, Tsolo, Elliotdale, Matatiele, and Mount Frere. The utility is working to restore supply, but the adverse weather is making repair operations difficult.

A spokesperson from Eskom said the utility is “monitoring the situation and working closely with disaster management and other government departments to coordinate restoration efforts.”

Due to the dangerous weather, some technicians are unable to reach certain sites until it is safe to do so.

What’s the latest weather situation in the Eastern Cape?

Meanwhile, SAWS has issued an Orange Level 9 warning for disruptive rain, which is a high-level alert indicating that the storm is expected to cause serious impacts.

According to SAWS, the rain is being caused by a “cut-off low system” – a type of weather system that brings slow-moving, heavy showers. These are particularly dangerous because they can cause flooding in a short amount of time, especially over low-lying areas.

The warning is in effect until 17:59 today, and affects a large portion of the province.

Specific areas of concern include OR Tambo District Municipality, where flooding of roads, settlements, and homes is already being reported.

The road situation has also worsened. Several mountain passes have been closed due to the weather, including:

  • Barkley Pass on the R58 between Barkly East and Elliot
  • Penhoek Pass on the N6 between Komani (Queenstown) and Aliwal North

For those needing to travel between Johannesburg and East London, an official detour is in place.

It routes vehicles through Aliwal North, Burgersdorp, Steynsburg, Hofmeyer, Cradock, and Komani, covering a total distance of approximately 379km.

Authorities have urged residents and motorists to stay off the roads if possible, delay non-essential travel, and use alternative routes if necessary.

“We are dealing with a combination of snow, rain, and strong winds, which makes conditions on the road extremely dangerous,” one official said.

Emergency services are on high alert and communities are being advised to stay updated with local alerts and warnings.