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Residents from Mbhongweni, Mathwebu, and several other parts of Bizana say they have been living without electricity for weeks, with some communities reporting outages dating back to 31 October 2025.
They told Pondoland Times that despite daily follow-ups with Eskom and the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality, no technicians have arrived to attend to damaged transformers and fallen lines.
What Residents Are Reporting
A resident from Mbhongweni, who contacted Pondoland Times directly, said:
“We have had no electricity since 31 October. The municipality and Eskom have been reporting it, but nothing has been fixed. We keep calling for help. They say someone is coming, but no one arrives.”
They added that 29 households in their section have been without power, with a transformer believed to be the source of the problem.
Another resident said:
“Even today, my mother called again to say they still don’t have electricity. She asked if we have seen Eskom at the transformer. They keep saying they sent someone, but no one comes.”
Mathwebu Community Also Hit Hard
Residents in Mathwebu told us their appliances have stopped working due to the inconsistent power supply.
One Facebook commenter wrote:
“Kettle ayisebenzi, izitofu azisebenzi, izinto zokufudumeza azisebenzi, fridge ayisebenzi. Siyakwazi kuphela ukucharger nokudlala i-TV.”
(“Kettles, stoves, heaters and fridges do not work. We only manage to charge phones or sometimes watch TV.”)
Another resident said they have been without electricity for over a week.
Other Bizana Areas Facing Weeks-Long Outages
Some residents from nearby parts of Bizana told Pondoland Times that they have been without electricity for “five weeks”, with repeated reports to Eskom going unanswered.
One comment read:
“We haven’t had electricity for 5 weeks. We reported it to Eskom many times. Nothing has been done. I’m writing this comment from the dark.”
No Clear Timelines From Authorities
Residents say the municipality acknowledges the complaints but continues to refer them back to Eskom, while Eskom maintains that “a team has been sent” — despite none arriving at the affected sites.
The prolonged outages have caused:
- Food spoilage
- Inability to cook
- Damage to electrical appliances
- Safety concerns for elderly residents and children
- Economic disruptions for small businesses that rely on power
