Komani Elderly Homes Face Mounting Pressure During Power Cut

KOMANI, EASTERN CAPE – After seven days without municipal electricity, relief is out of sight for two Komani old age homes that have been battling to care for elderly residents in darkness.

John Foster Old Age Home in Westbourne and Madeira Old Age Home have both been heavily affected by the ongoing power outage, forcing them to rely on generators and community donations to maintain basic services.

According to Callen Watson, the situation has placed severe strain on the facilities, particularly in frail care sections where residents require constant assistance.

“These facilities rely on donations. They are non-profit organisations and do not generate profit. Running generators for extended periods is not financially sustainable,” Watson said.

Generators and Fuel Strain

Madeira Old Age Home confirmed it has been running its generator for six hours per day:

• 06:00–08:00

• 11:00–13:00

• 18:00–20:00

The home reported that 220 litres of diesel lasts approximately five days, but the generator cannot be operated continuously due to cost constraints.

The facility houses 70 residents, and management says the prolonged outage has disrupted nearly every aspect of daily operations.

Without consistent electricity:

• Hot water supply is limited

• Laundry services are severely affected, with some washing being done by hand

• Kitchen operations are under pressure

• Intercom systems between residents’ rooms and staff are non-functional

• Diabetic residents’ insulin must be kept on ice

• Rechargeable torches are being used at night, but they do not last the entire evening

Frail care residents, who require assistance with bathing and mobility, have been particularly impacted due to poor lighting in large hallways and care areas.

The outage has also affected cottage residents attached to the facility, as they cannot call for assistance when the intercom system is offline.

Community Steps In

Watson confirmed that fuel donations were collected and delivered to both facilities.

• 25 litres of diesel to Madeira

• 25 litres of petrol to John Foster

More than R4,500 has reportedly been raised and split equally between the two homes to help cover generator fuel costs.

Madeira Old Age Home has appealed to the community for assistance, asking residents to drop off diesel — even small quantities such as 5 litres — at the security gate to help sustain operations during outages.

Municipality Responds

In response to a media enquiry, Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality spokesperson Lonwabo Kowa confirmed that a new NEC unit was delivered on Thursday morning.

“The NEC was delivered this morning and the old one has been removed. Installation is underway with the protection specialist on site running procedural tests and installing it,” Kowa said.

According to the municipality, power supply is expected to be restored today once installation and testing are complete.

Wider Impact in Komani

The power interruption has not only affected the old age homes but also surrounding areas in Westbourne, Top Town, and reportedly parts of Komani Park.

Residents in these areas have expressed frustration over the duration of the outage and the pressure it has placed on households and vulnerable community members.

For non-profit institutions caring for the elderly, however, the consequences have been more severe — affecting healthcare support, food storage, communication systems, and overall wellbeing.

Awaiting Full Restoration

While municipal officials indicate that restoration is imminent, both homes remain dependent on generators until supply is fully stabilised.

Community members who wish to assist Madeira Old Age Home with diesel donations can drop fuel at the security gate, according to management.

Komani News will continue monitoring the situation and provide updates once full power restoration is confirmed.