Pietermaritzburg power outages today (7 November 2026): affected areas, causes and when power returns
Parts of Pietermaritzburg are still without power on 7 November after Thursday's storm damaged Msunduzi's network. No restoration time yet, and Diwali is on Sunday.
Several parts of Pietermaritzburg are still without electricity on Saturday, 7 November 2026, two days after Thursday afternoon's severe storm. Msunduzi Municipality has not given a restoration time, and some areas lost power again after explosions at substations (The Witness).
Which areas are affected?
Msunduzi has not published a full list of areas. These are the areas named in reports so far:
| Area | What has been reported | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Meade | Affected by the outages, according to the ward councillor | The Witness |
| Balhambra Way area | Residents report some homes without power for about three days | The Witness |
| Eskom-supplied areas in and around Pietermaritzburg | Among the worst hit by Thursday's storms in KZN | East Coast Radio |
Why is the power off?
The storm damaged Msunduzi's 33kV, 11kV and low-voltage networks, leaving fallen poles, damaged overhead lines and underground cable faults (The Witness). Crews are replacing poles, restringing lines, clearing branches and repairing cables (The Witness).
When will power return?
No time has been given. The municipality says power can come back without warning, so treat all lines as live and don't tamper with electrical installations (The Witness). Eskom has also warned that restoration in storm-hit KZN areas may take longer than usual (East Coast Radio).
Will the power be back for Diwali?
That is not confirmed. With Diwali on Sunday, residents in affected areas are worried about spoilt food and disrupted celebrations (The Witness). Keep fridge and freezer doors closed and plan for a backup light source.
What should I do when the power comes back?
Msunduzi asks residents on 11kV and low-voltage faults to check the circuit breakers in their distribution boards and meter boxes, since these may have tripped. If you are still off after checking, log a new fault. Three-phase customers should check their equipment and phase rotation, and anyone on solar, batteries or a generator should check their changeover switch (The Witness).
How do I report a power outage in Pietermaritzburg?
Call the Msunduzi call centre on 0800 001 868. The municipality says individual complaints are only attended to once formally logged (The Witness). If Eskom supplies your area, report the fault to Eskom instead.
FAQ
Why is there no power in Pietermaritzburg?
Thursday's storm damaged Msunduzi's 33kV, 11kV and low-voltage networks, and some substations later exploded.
When will power be restored in Msunduzi?
The municipality has not given a time. Power may return without warning, so treat all lines as live.
What is the Msunduzi electricity fault number?
Call 0800 001 868 to log a fault. Complaints are only attended to once formally logged.