Massive power outage hits Cape

A massive power outage has hit the Western Cape Province, affecting all areas south of Beaufort West, stretching to George in the south. According to radio reports, monitored by I-Net Bridge's Cape Town reporters, the power outage is one of the largest ever.

Radio reports attributed the power outage to a fault on the power grid. Eskom technicians are working on the problem but it could take a few hours to fix.

Some areas had regained power by 12.30pm on Friday.

Work had to come to a halt across Cape Town and other Western Cape towns, as offices were plunged into darkness. Parliament's portfolio committees also had to stop work as a result of the power cut.

Former President Nelson Mandela was hit by the cut during a function at the Battswoord Primary School in Cape Town's Ottery suburb, just as the school principal was handing over to him to start speaking.

Mandela went ahead and made the speech without the benefit of electrcity and then led the children in a rendition of - you guessed it - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!

http://www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,946171-6078-0,00.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 12, 2001

Answers

The wheels are coming off.

-- David Williams (DAVIDWILL@prodigy.net), October 12, 2001.