South Africa: Ethekwini Deploys Teams As Strong Winds Cause Power Outages

What the report says

The eThekwini Municipality in Durban, South Africa, says it has deployed teams from its Recreation and Parks Directorate and Emergency Services after strong winds caused widespread outages and storm damage across the city. According to the municipal update carried by SAnews.gov.za and distributed via AllAfrica, the winds hit on Saturday afternoon and into the evening, leaving several communities without electricity and triggering reports of fallen trees and damaged infrastructure.

The municipality said its Electricity and Energy Directorate was handling multiple power outages, especially on overhead medium-voltage lines that are more exposed to wind-related damage. Areas mentioned in the report include Baphehli, Folweni, Amaoti, Waterloo, Moriah, Klaarwater, Savannah Park, Inanda, Gunjini, Redcliffe, Malukazi, KwaNdengezi, Clermont, Umlazi C and Thornwood, among others. Officials said some power had been restored overnight, while other affected areas still needed inspection and repairs.

Teams were also clearing debris and removing fallen trees at several roads and intersections around eThekwini, including routes in uMhlanga, Kloof, uMkomaas, Amanzimtoti and Sherwood. No injuries had been reported at the time of the update. Fire Services were attending to a damaged billboard near the N2 and Queen Nandi Drive, and metro police were managing traffic on affected roads.

The municipality said the full scale of the damage was still being assessed and warned residents not to touch fallen power lines or move damaged cables. It urged motorists to avoid affected roads where possible and asked the public to report storm damage to the Disaster Management Centre.