Government

Eastern Cape power outages today (27 October 2026): affected areas, causes and when power returns

Eskom says heavy rain and strong winds caused widespread outages in Alfred Nzo, OR Tambo, Amathole, Chris Hani and Buffalo City on 27 October 2026. There is no restore time yet.

By Reported Team · Updated

Electricity pylons and power lines under a grey, stormy sky in South Africa
Photo: Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Update (10:35 SAST, 28 October 2026): Eskom has not announced that supply is fully restored, and flooding in the OR Tambo District is slowing repairs. Follow today's coverage here: Eastern Cape power outages today (28 October 2026).

Eskom says heavy rain and strong winds have caused widespread power outages in parts of the Eastern Cape. The worst hit areas are the Alfred Nzo, OR Tambo, Amathole and Chris Hani district municipalities and Buffalo City Metro, according to an Eskom notice posted at 12:45 on 27 October 2026. There is no restore time yet: Eskom says restoration times "will vary by area", depending on the damage and the weather (Eskom).

This is not load shedding. Eskom's load shedding page says it is currently not load shedding, so these are storm damage faults on the network.

Which Eastern Cape areas have no power?

Eskom lists these as the most severely affected (Eskom):

  • Alfred Nzo District Municipality
  • OR Tambo District Municipality
  • Amathole District Municipality
  • Chris Hani District Municipality
  • Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality

Eskom has not published a list of towns, villages or wards, or a number of affected customers. Not every home in these areas is off, and other parts of the province may also be affected.

What caused the outages?

Eskom says the outages were caused by heavy rainfall and strong winds, which damaged its network, including fallen poles, broken conductors and other equipment (Eskom).

The South African Weather Service had issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms in the eastern half of the Eastern Cape on Monday, 26 October, warning of heavy downpours, strong winds, hail and possible disruptions to electricity (The South African, Komani News). Eskom has not said exactly when the outages started.

When will power be back?

Eskom has not given a restore time. It says difficult road access and ongoing bad weather are slowing repairs, and restoration "will vary by area based on the extent of the damage and prevailing weather conditions" (Eskom). It says it will post further updates as information becomes available.

How do I report an outage or a fallen power line?

Call or WhatsApp Eskom on 08600 37566 to report fallen power lines or damaged equipment (Eskom). If your electricity account is with your municipality rather than Eskom, report the outage to your municipality.

How do I stay safe while the power is off?

Eskom asks residents to (Eskom):

  • stay away from fallen power lines and damaged electrical equipment
  • treat all electrical conductors as live and dangerous
  • never touch, approach or try to move a fallen line

It also helps to switch off appliances so they are not damaged by a power surge when supply comes back.

FAQ

Which Eastern Cape areas have power outages today, 27 October 2026?

Eskom says the worst affected areas are the Alfred Nzo, OR Tambo, Amathole and Chris Hani district municipalities and Buffalo City Metro. It has not published a list of towns or a customer count.

Is the Eastern Cape power outage load shedding?

No. Eskom says it is not load shedding. The outages are caused by storm damage to the network, including fallen poles and broken conductors.

When will power be restored in the Eastern Cape?

Eskom has not given a restore time. It says times will vary by area, depending on the damage, road access and the weather.

How do I report a fallen power line to Eskom?

Call or WhatsApp Eskom on 08600 37566. Stay away from the line and treat it as live.

Sources