Large parts of Johannesburg's Central Business District (CBD) have been without electricity for five days following a fire at the central substation. The power outage began on September 24, 2026, and was compounded by a previous two-week-long outage in the same area that had only been resolved the day before the fire. City Power, the electricity supplier, is working to restore power but has not provided a timeline for completion.
According to City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena, restoration efforts are being carried out in phases to ensure safety. Each section of the network must be checked and confirmed safe before it can be returned to service. This process is necessary to prevent further damage or risk to personnel. The company aims to progressively restore electricity to affected customers as different sections of the network are safely brought back into operation.
The fire at the central substation caused significant damage, with temperatures inside the affected area remaining too high for teams to safely work until September 29, 2026. Although the smoke had cleared on Sunday, 27 September 2026, and the area had been released for technical assessment and restoration, the high temperatures posed a risk to workers. Restoration efforts resumed on September 29, with teams working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.
Residents in the affected areas may have to contend with power outages for longer, with City Power unable to confirm when electricity supply will be fully restored. The company is working to restore power in phases, but the process is expected to take some time. The power outage has caused disruptions to businesses and residents in the CBD, with many relying on alternative sources of power or going without electricity for an extended period.
This latest power outage is a setback for the city, which has experienced frequent electricity outages in recent times. The outages have been caused by a range of factors, including fires at substations, equipment failure, and maintenance work. City Power has been working to upgrade infrastructure and improve maintenance to reduce the frequency and duration of outages, but challenges persist.
The power outage has also raised concerns about the impact on businesses and residents in the CBD. Many businesses rely on electricity to operate, and the outage has caused disruptions to trading and operations. Residents have also been affected, with some relying on alternative sources of power or going without electricity for an extended period. City Power is working to minimize the impact of the outage, but the situation remains challenging.
City Power will continue to work to restore electricity to the affected areas as quickly and safely as possible. The company has apologized for the inconvenience caused by the power outage and is working to prevent similar outages in the future. Residents and businesses are advised to report any issues or concerns to City Power, which will respond to queries and provide updates on the restoration efforts.
Key points
- City Power is working to restore electricity in phases to ensure safety.
- The power outage has caused disruptions to businesses and residents in the CBD.
- The company has apologized for the inconvenience caused by the power outage.
