News Article

Power Supply Disruption in Summerstrand and Walmer

Published: March 11, 2026

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Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is currently responding to a power supply disruption affecting parts of Summerstrand and Walmer following the collapse of a transmission line pylon on the Chelsea–Arlington–Walmer–Summerstrand electricity line during the early hours of this morning

Municipal electricity engineers and technical teams were immediately deployed to the site once the incident was reported. Initial assessments confirmed that a pylon supporting the transmission line had collapsed, interrupting electricity supply to the affected areas.

Following consultations by senior municipal officials, contractors have been mobilised to commence repair work as of today. Repair operations are focused on securing the damaged section of the transmission line, removing compromised infrastructure, and preparing the site for reconstruction of the collapsed structure. The Municipality is working diligently to restore electricity supply to affected residents as quickly and safely as possible.

Preliminary technical assessments indicate that the restoration process may take up to ten days, given the complexity involved in rebuilding the pylon and ensuring the transmission line can be safely re-energised. All available technical resources have been mobilised, and contractors have been instructed to prioritise and accelerate the repair work wherever possible.

The Municipality confirms that routine technical oversight of the line forms part of ongoing infrastructure monitoring processes. Earlier this week, technical teams conducted inspections along the corridor after structural concerns were identified on certain pylons. Based on these observations, the Municipality had begun initiating the necessary technical and procurement processes to prioritise intervention on the affected infrastructure.

The collapse of the pylon occurred before the scheduled remedial work could commence.

While infrastructure of this nature is exposed to a range of structural and environmental pressures, the Municipality is treating this incident with the necessary urgency and seriousness. A full technical assessment will be conducted as part of the repair process to determine the precise cause of the structural failure and to guide any further preventative measures.

Restoring electricity supply safely and as quickly as possible remains the immediate operational priority. At the same time, the Municipality is reviewing the broader condition of the Summerstrand transmission line to prioritise longer-term refurbishment and strengthen electricity reliability in this corridor.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality acknowledges the disruption and inconvenience caused to residents and businesses in the affected areas. The public will continue to receive regular updates as repair work progresses.


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