Eskom Restores Power in Bhayizane After Two Days in the Dark
By Nokulunga Lebambo ;Bushbuckridge, Marite
Residents of Bhayizane in Marite, Bushbuckridge, are relieved after Eskom finally restored electricity on Tuesday following a two-day blackout that left households frustrated, inconvenienced and counting their losses.
The power outage was caused by fallen electricity poles and dangerously hanging cables, which community members say had been reported to Eskom shortly after the fault occurred. Despite the urgency of the situation, residents claim the power utility only responded two days later, leaving families without electricity, light or the ability to preserve food.
Speaking to the newspaper, community members expressed anger over the delay. Many said their meat and other perishables had gone bad due to the prolonged outage.
“We reported the problem immediately because the poles were on the ground and the wires were exposed. It was unsafe for our children, and we had no electricity at all,” said one resident. “We phoned Eskom several times, but they only came after two days. By then most of our food was spoiled.”
Parents also raised concerns about safety, saying the hanging cables posed a serious danger, especially to children walking to school.
Eskom technicians arrived on the scene on Tuesday morning to repair the fallen poles, secure the cables, and restore electricity to the affected households. The community welcomed the restoration but called for quicker response times in the future.
“We appreciate that the power is finally back, but Eskom needs to take our complaints seriously. Two days without electricity is too long, especially when the problem is risky and affects our daily lives,” said another resident.
Eskom had not issued an official statement at the time of publication, but residents hope the incident will highlight the need for improved service delivery and faster turnaround times in rural communities.
For Bhayizane, the lights are back on but the frustration over delayed response remains a reminder of how essential reliable electricity is to everyday life.
