CHAOS ruled on Buffalo City Metro roads during yesterday morning’s loadshedding-hit rush hour.
On Tuesday Eskom alarmingly implemented stage three loadshedding at 6pm, then stage two at 9pm, and repeated the action yesterday. Beyond stage three is a national blackout.
Yesterday morning traffic lights were out around the city centre, in Amalinda Main Road and along Fleet Street. Extra traffic officers were sent to direct traffic at critical intersections, but one officer at the intersection of Currie and Fleet Streets was seen being ignored as drivers tried to barge into the queue, which stretched for 500m.
Other motorists drove on the wrong side of the road, into oncoming traffic.
The same scene played out in Oxford Street, where motorists tried to beat the crunch by using side streets, but where traffic was also backed up.
At around 8am, at least four traffic lights were out in Fleet Street, where traffic was backed up all the way to Fitzpatrick Road.
Angry motorists complained about being trapped in snarl-ups for the second day in a row. Thabisa Masondo said she had been rushing to the airport and feared missing her 10am flight.
“We understand that Eskom is doing this to try and cope with high electricity use, but they really should consider how people’s lives are affected,” she vented.
“I left Beacon Bay at 7.30am, thinking I would have enough time, but instead I find myself spending more than 30 minutes in one spot.”
Motorist Theys van Rensburg said: “Why are there no traffic officers here? Everyone is impatient and in a hurry to get to work so no one is willing to give way to anyone. It’s every man for himself.”
While loadshedding schedules are available on BCM’s website, many residents questioned their accuracy, saying the blackouts did not match the stipulated times.
Irate Braelyn residents yesterday reported that they had been hit by two blackouts, in the morning and in the evening, saying they feared criminals would take advantage of the situation.
However, East London cluster (Gonubie to Tsholomqa) police spokesperson Hazel Mqala said they had not picked up a spike in crime.
Residents took to the Facebook page Load Shedding Buffalo City, with Dellize Mould Botha writing: “I am a bit frustrated at the moment because Selborne has gone off and according to new schedule this is not our time slot.”
Glynis Smith, who runs a baking business in Kayser’s Beach, said: “It’s not a case of restarting the ovens and just carrying on. If the power goes off while our goodies are in the ovens, that’s it, all of those biscuits have to be done again.
“All of that stock is lost, and more importantly, it’s the time you can’t get back.”
Students from Rhodes University have been warned not to use candles or any type of open flame for lighting. University spokeswoman Catherine Deiner said generators supplied electricity to the main library and laboratories, enabling students to continue studying.
Traffic mayhem in blackout
On Tuesday Eskom alarmingly implemented stage three loadshedding at 6pm, then stage two at 9pm, and repeated the action yesterday. Beyond stage three is a national blackout.
Yesterday morning traffic lights were out around the city centre, in Amalinda Main Road and along Fleet Street. Extra traffic officers were sent to direct traffic at critical intersections, but one officer at the intersection of Currie and Fleet Streets was seen being ignored as drivers tried to barge into the queue, which stretched for 500m.
Other motorists drove on the wrong side of the road, into oncoming traffic.
The same scene played out in Oxford Street, where motorists tried to beat the crunch by using side streets, but where traffic was also backed up.
At around 8am, at least four traffic lights were out in Fleet Street, where traffic was backed up all the way to Fitzpatrick Road.
Angry motorists complained about being trapped in snarl-ups for the second day in a row. Thabisa Masondo said she had been rushing to the airport and feared missing her 10am flight.
“We understand that Eskom is doing this to try and cope with high electricity use, but they really should consider how people’s lives are affected,” she vented.
“I left Beacon Bay at 7.30am, thinking I would have enough time, but instead I find myself spending more than 30 minutes in one spot.”
Motorist Theys van Rensburg said: “Why are there no traffic officers here? Everyone is impatient and in a hurry to get to work so no one is willing to give way to anyone. It’s every man for himself.”
While loadshedding schedules are available on BCM’s website, many residents questioned their accuracy, saying the blackouts did not match the stipulated times.
Irate Braelyn residents yesterday reported that they had been hit by two blackouts, in the morning and in the evening, saying they feared criminals would take advantage of the situation.
However, East London cluster (Gonubie to Tsholomqa) police spokesperson Hazel Mqala said they had not picked up a spike in crime.
Residents took to the Facebook page Load Shedding Buffalo City, with Dellize Mould Botha writing: “I am a bit frustrated at the moment because Selborne has gone off and according to new schedule this is not our time slot.”
Glynis Smith, who runs a baking business in Kayser’s Beach, said: “It’s not a case of restarting the ovens and just carrying on. If the power goes off while our goodies are in the ovens, that’s it, all of those biscuits have to be done again.
“All of that stock is lost, and more importantly, it’s the time you can’t get back.”
Students from Rhodes University have been warned not to use candles or any type of open flame for lighting. University spokeswoman Catherine Deiner said generators supplied electricity to the main library and laboratories, enabling students to continue studying.
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