The Iliso LaBantu News

19/07/2025

Dunoon and nearby areas hit by illegal power cuts

Dunoon blackouts worsen as illegal power use grows

Staff Reporter

Efforts to restore electricity to Dunoon and several other areas in the Western Cape are being undermined by rampant electricity theft, community protests, and the sabotage of power infrastructure, according to Eskom.
The power utility said on Saturday it had intensified operations in recent weeks to address a growing backlog of reported faults.
But its ability to restore supply has been severely
constrained by what it describes as “deliberate tampering” with power infrastructure, particularly pole-mounted distribution boxes, and illegal connections that are overloading the system and damaging transformers.
Dunoon, along with communities such as Delft, Khayelitsha, Bloekombos, and Wallacedene, is experiencing some of the worst outages.
Eskom has condemned the ongoing vandalism and urged residents to work alongside law enforcement to identify and hold accountable those responsible.
In a statement, Eskom said: “These acts of electricity theft and infrastructure vandalism continue to undermine essential service delivery and compromise the reliability of supply.”
Protests at several of Eskom’s Customer Network Centres are also preventing technicians from attending to faults, raising concerns about the safety of personnel.
The utility has appealed to residents to remain calm and use official channels to report outages, including via the MyEskom App, website chatbot, or WhatsApp line.
Eskom says it remains committed to restoring power as quickly as possible despite the mounting challenges.

A man connects illegal electricity cables to a pole-top box in Dunoon. The proliferation of such unregulated hookups continues to overload Eskom’s infrastructure and leave parts of the township without power.
Archive photo: Peter Luhanga

27/05/2025

Baby dies after ambulance fails to arrive in time

The death of Omikuye Jozana, just eight months old, highlights deep cracks in a strained public health system

Grieving parents Luthando and Somila Jozana in their Siyahlala home, Dunoon, mourn their eight-month-old baby Omikuye, who died after an ambulance failed to arrive at the community health centre on 19 February. They demand answers and justice for their child’s unexplained death. Photo Peter Luhang...

12/05/2025

Take an early look at the mid-May edition of Iliso LaBantu News, hitting the streets tomorrow.

02/02/2025

What a splendid welcome!

You do us all proud.

🪖🎖️

31/01/2025

Households and businesses are bracing for more blackouts as Eskom pulls the plug, announcing the return of Stage 3 load shedding after nearly a year of uninterrupted power.

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23/01/2025

Suspect arrested for Dunoon murder and r**e, set to appear in court tomorrow

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21/01/2025

Cape Town faces heatwave as temperatures soar

By Staff Reporter

The South African Weather Service has issued an "extremely hot and uncomfortable advisory" for parts of the Western Cape, including Cape Town, with daytime temperatures expected to reach 34°C to 37°C on Wednesday.

The warning, valid until 8:00pm on 22 January 2025, highlights the risks of extreme heat conditions, urging residents to take necessary precautions to avoid serious health impacts.

The advisory predicts dangerously high temperatures in the Western Cape interior, with areas experiencing highs of 37°C to 42°C. Cape Town residents are encouraged to stay hydrated and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, as the heatwave could significantly reduce the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating, potentially leading to hyperthermia or heatstroke.

Authorities recommend the following measures to beat the heat:

Hydration: Drink plenty of water, use spray bottles, or carry damp cloths to cool down.
Seek refuge: Spend time in shaded or air-conditioned spaces, such as shopping malls or libraries.
Protective clothing: Wear wide-brimmed hats and lightweight, loose clothing.
Limit outdoor activities: Stay indoors during the hottest parts of the day and schedule outdoor activities for early mornings or evenings.
The Weather Service has also advised residents to recognise the early signs of heat-related illnesses, such as muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea, and confusion, and to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms escalate.

Charlotte Powell, the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson, stated that the guidelines provided by the Weather Service should be followed closely to minimise risks.

“We urge residents to take this heat advisory seriously and implement the recommended precautions. Vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly, are particularly at risk,” stated Powell.

She also stated that residents should monitor updates and further advice through official communication channels and the South African Weather Service website.

13/01/2025

Western Cape class of 2024 achieves record-breaking results

Staff reporter

The Western Cape’s Class of 2024 has achieved its highest matric pass rate to date, with 86.6% of candidates passing their National Senior Certificate. This is a 5.1 percentage point increase from last year.
Full story: https://tinyurl.com/mu84dh26

13/01/2025

Iklasi yeNtshona Koloni ka-2024 iphumeze iziphumo ezona zirekhodiweyo

Intatheli yethu

IKlasi yowama-2024 yaseNtshona Koloni iphumelele elona qondo liphakamileyo lokuphumelela imatriki ukuza kuthi ga ngoku, ibe yi-86.6% yabafundi abaphumelele iSatifikethi seMatriki sikaZwelonke—ukwanda ngepesenti eyi-5.1 kunonyaka ophelileyo.

https://tinyurl.com/mu84dh26

27/12/2024

Dunoon's Ekuphumuleni residents Yonela Mkala and her boyfriend, Baithuti Shasha, escaped through debris-strewn passages until exhaustion forced her to set him down, after which he crawled to safety. A Christmas Day fire destroyed 300 homes and left one person injured. Photo: Peter Luhanga A Christma...

27/12/2024

Amputee crawls to safety amid Christmas Day blaze

Dunoon's Ekuphumuleni residents Yonela Mkala and her boyfriend, Baithuti Shasha, escaped through debris-strewn passages until exhaustion forced her to set him down, after which he crawled to safety. A Christmas Day fire destroyed 300 homes and left one person injured. Photo: Peter Luhanga A Christma...

11/11/2024

Vandalism leaves 6,200 Eskom customers in Dunoon without power

Staff Reporter

About 6,200 Eskom customers in Dunoon have been without electricity since early Sunday morning, November 10, following the vandalism of a key power cable.
Eskom spokesperson Kyle Clarkson says repair teams are on-site assessing the damage but cautioned that restoration times remain unclear.
“We’re working diligently to restore power as quickly as possible,” he said, urging residents to remain patient during the repair process.
To prevent further incidents, Clarkson added that Eskom will engage with local residents to find lasting solutions aimed at curbing the theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure.
“We urge community members to report any suspicious activity related to theft and vandalism of electrical infrastructure to the relevant authorities or the Eskom crime line at 0800 11 27 22, or SMS Crime Line at 32211.”