Lucky few escape darkness

Spared by sharing grid with hospitals, dodgy substation

While load-shedding has left most of Nelson Mandela Bay in the dark in recent weeks, a few pockets of lucky residents have escaped its clutches completely.

Areas falling on the same grid as some Bay hospitals have been among the fortunate, while some suburbs are kept lit for fear of their substations blowing if they are switched off.

Mount Croix resident Samson Madolo, 54, said he had been lucky to come home to lights and warm meals every night since load-shedding started as his house shared a grid with Provincial Hospital.

“Some nights I work a little late, and about 8pm I drive past countless dark houses. Here and there I can see a flashlight moving inside, or a gas lamp burning. I feel sorry for these people, but up to now I cannot complain about power cuts.”

Like Mount Croix, areas surrounding the St George’s and Greenacres hospitals have reported similar luck.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality communications director Roland Williams said residents living around essential services like hospitals, or around major industries, are among the lucky few who will never experience load-shedding.

-Riaan Marais