Potch WhatsApp Watch: Weekly Community Update
- Karen Scheepers
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
The week of Friday, November 28, to Wednesday, December 3, 2025, saw significant activity across various Potchefstroom community WhatsApp groups. Recurring themes centered on power outages, water supply issues, municipal finance concerns, and general community safety alerts, highlighting ongoing service delivery and local governance discussions.
⚡️ Power Supply and Storms
Power failures dominated the chat groups this week, with multiple outages reported across large parts of the town.
Timeline of Outages: Interruptions were noted starting as early as Monday, December 1st, affecting areas like Solplaatjie, Smit, Kamp Street, Grimbeekpark, and Bailliepark. Specific reports indicated outages around 2:00 AM in some areas on December 1st.
Cause and Municipal Response: Later on Monday, a widespread power outage at approximately 14:30 was attributed to a fault, possibly at a substation. Municipal communication, shared via councillors, confirmed that electricians were aware of the issues. However, initial repair work was reportedly hampered by prevailing storm conditions. On Tuesday, December 2nd, a major interruption was linked to a lightning strike hitting a transformer near the Mooirivier Mall.
Resolution and Patience: Community representatives consistently relayed that electricians were working to resolve faults as soon as weather conditions allowed, urging residents to remain patient.
💧 Water and Infrastructure
A planned water interruption and subsequent swift resolution were noted:
Vyfhoek Reservoir Area: Residents receiving water from the Vyfhoek reservoir were notified of a water outage scheduled for Wednesday, December 3rd, to allow for work on replacing a pressure-reducing valve (PRV). This affected numerous areas, including Tuscany Ridge, Dagbreek, Van der Hoffpark, and Bailliepark.
Quick Resolution: Updates confirmed that the work to replace the pressure valve was completed faster than anticipated. Water was expected to return systematically within an hour after the completion of work, once the pipeline was stabilised.
💻 Municipal Accounts and System Problems
Discussions arose regarding access to utility accounts and system reliability:
Cabledocs System Failure: Residents reported difficulties accessing municipal accounts online. Municipal representatives confirmed that the Cabledocs system was down due to technical problems experienced by the service provider, reportedly caused by a power outage at the server site in Johannesburg.
Contact Information: Detailed municipal contact details for general account inquiries, sending monthly meter readings, and system checks were shared within the groups.
🐕 Safety and Community Alerts
Community members posted several general safety and alert messages:
Lost Pets: Multiple posts circulated regarding lost dogs, specifying sightings in areas such as Grimbreek Street and Walter Sisulu Street, with calls for community assistance in reuniting pets with their owners.
Aggressive Solicitors: One alert warned of a bakkie with individuals claiming to work for a nursery and acting aggressively when confronted. A follow-up post suggested that the activity might have been legitimate based on information from a manager, but the initial warning encouraged caution.
Fireworks: A discussion took place regarding the shooting of fireworks in a built-up area and the lack of visible law enforcement on the matter, with one user reiterating that municipal law prohibits the shooting of fireworks in residential areas.
Final Chat
The past week in Potchefstroom's ward WhatsApp groups paints a picture of a community dealing with simultaneous challenges: unreliable power and water infrastructure, coupled with administrative system failures. The platforms served as essential conduits for municipal representatives to provide updates, manage expectations regarding service restoration, and for residents to issue timely safety and assistance alerts.
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