By Staff Reporter
KHUJWANA — Residents of Khujwana have been forced to pay up to R10 to charge their mobile phones as a widespread power outage entered its 48th hour, leaving households frustrated and struggling.
The prolonged outage follows severe thunderstorms that damaged infrastructure at the Nkowankowa and Lenyenye substations, affecting electricity supply to Nkowankowa, Lenyenye, Dan, Muhlava and surrounding areas.
Community members say the situation is becoming unbearable, with many fearing that a third day without electricity will result in food spoilage and further hardship during the festive period.
“We are crossing our fingers not to enter day three without power. If it doesn’t come back, my family will go hungry because I used my last money to buy braai packs and Russians,” said one concerned resident.
The Greater Tzaneen Municipality mayor visited the affected area to assess damage to the electrical network following recent incidents at the Tarentaalrand Substation.
Municipal leadership is expected to receive a briefing from the electrical team on the extent of the damage and the repair work currently underway.
Eskom has confirmed that technical teams are on site and working tirelessly to restore electricity supply. However, progress has been slowed by adverse weather conditions.
Eskom has appealed to affected communities for patience and understanding as crews continue operating under challenging conditions.
Residents remain hopeful that power will be restored soon to prevent further losses.
