Incorrect Warning of City-Wide Electricity Shut Down on Wednesday Night Causes Undue Panic

Residents of Cape Town are informed that an e-mail message containing a warning of a city-wide electricity shutdown starting at 21:00 on Wednesday (16th January) night is incorrect.

A staff member saw a notice advertising the shutdown of the computer system that controls the sale of pre-paid electricity in the 'old' City of Cape Town area and misinterpreted this as being a city-wide electricity shutdown.

She sent an e-mail to a small circle of colleagues to alert them. The e-mail unfortunately left the circle and was forwarded ad infinitum. When she realised her error she alerted her colleagues by e-mail, but by then the original incorrect e-mail message was being widely circulated.

The City sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused by this incident. Residents can rest assured that a planned interruption in the electricity supply of this magnitude will be officially communicated by the City by way of adverts, media releases etc.

The Correct Message:

The Vending System in the former Cape Town area will temporarily be shut down for urgent maintenance work on Wednesday 16 January 2008 at 21:00 and brought back on line after the completion of the maintenance on Thursday 17 January 2008 at 07:00.

Customers will not be able to purchase pre-paid electricity during this shutdown.

Notices have been placed at all the affected vendors [e.g. shops, cafes, filling stations] advising customers of this planned shutdown. Contingency plans are in place to assist customers having to make an emergency purchase during this period.

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 3719