Potchefstroom Weekly Ward Group Update – 14 August 2025

Karen Scheepers
Aug 14
3 min read

Every week, ward-based WhatsApp groups in Potchefstroom pulse with updates from residents, councillors, and first responders. From blackouts to broken pipes, theft to outreach efforts, these digital neighbourhoods reflect the on-the-ground reality of life in town. This update highlights key events and community conversations from 8 to 14 August 2025, shared here with neutrality, clarity, and no political alignment.

⚡ Massive Power Outage Hits Entire Town

The week started with a town-wide power outage on 11 August, affecting nearly every suburb including Beyers Naudé, Olienhout, Bloem, Scheeperslaan, Chris Hani, Vyfhoek, Maherry, and many more. Initial confusion led to speculation of a fire at a major substation, which was later clarified to be a jumper failure at the Eskom Britzkop Substation. This caused the Potch DS substation to trip, cutting power to the rest of Potchefstroom.

Repairs were underway by early morning, and power was gradually restored in stages. By late morning, electricity had returned to parts of Promosa and Mohadin, with other areas being restored throughout the day. Residents expressed frustration over the lack of communication and unanswered municipal lines during the outage.

🧯 Fires, First Responders & Community Appeals

On 11 August, local First Responders and volunteers were called to battle serious veldfires threatening rural parts of the community. A public call was issued asking for bottled water, viennas, and tomato sauce to support emergency teams working in the heat.

While the fires were reported to be under control by evening, water supply remained limited, and the appeal for community contributions stayed active through the week.

🔌 Cable Theft Disrupts Power in Beyers Naudé, Klerk, and Kamp Street

From 12–13 August, multiple reports came in of ongoing power cuts specifically in Beyers Naudé, Klerkstraat, and sections of Kamp Street. This was later confirmed to be due to cable theft, with some thefts occurring as early as 03:00 AM.

Suburbs affected included:

Beyers Naudé (multiple house numbers: 222, 230, 241, 248, 289)
Klerkstraat (including areas with repeated theft incidents)
Kampstraat (house 33 without power while nearby houses had)
Chris Hani Street
Maherry and Wandrag Ave

Municipal updates confirmed that electricians were working on restoring power, but due to the nature of cable repairs, delays were expected. Some areas were without power for over 12 hours.

📝 Stats SA Visits & Administrative Updates

On 13 August, residents were notified that Stats SA officials would be conducting population surveys in Maree, Rivier, Klopper, Totius, and Walter Sisulu Streets. Ward representatives confirmed that the enumerators would carry identification documents and supporting letters.

In other updates:

Residents requested additions to group chats and provided contact numbers.
Multiple members raised concerns about SMS messages related to tariffs showing “Apple Music” as the sender ID, though these were later confirmed to be municipal-related.

💡 Streetlight Repairs & Safety Warnings

Several requests were shared about non-functioning streetlights, especially in areas like Piet Bosman and Kock streets. Some residents shared incidents of early morning crime where lack of lighting was a contributing factor. Others, however, confirmed that replacements had started in Jeugdstraat and other areas, providing a sign of progress.

🧾 Utility Billing and Communication Issues

There was ongoing confusion regarding electricity tariffs and municipal billing communication. Residents reported receiving unclear SMS notifications and being unsure whether they reflected June or July consumption. Calls to the municipality reportedly went unanswered in some cases.

❤️ Community Support and Outreach

Following the house fire on Malva Street the previous week, the community continued rallying support for the Jordaan family. Clothing sizes and banking details were previously shared, and drop-off locations remained open for donations.

In addition, frustration was voiced regarding long delays in power and water recovery after outages, but residents also consistently thanked ward councillors and community leaders for frequent updates, repair tracking, and transparency around cable theft challenges.

📍 Summary and Closing

This week in Potchefstroom was marked by major power disruptions, cable theft, and a community that once again stepped up, from fighting fires to helping neighbours without electricity. Despite growing tension around service delivery and infrastructure sabotage, the public's ability to mobilise quickly, share real-time updates, and assist responders speaks volumes.