A fire at the Central Substation in Johannesburg's CBD has left several areas without electricity, prompting City Power to begin staged repairs. The fire, which damaged the underground network, occurred on Saturday and affected Marshalltown and parts of the Johannesburg CBD. City Power Acting CEO Charles Tlouane met with a team on site on Monday to draw up a repair plan. The utility aims to progressively restore electricity to affected customers.
The fire at the Central Substation is believed to have been caused by suspected tampering, which may have triggered an explosion and subsequent fire. City Power teams discovered signs of cable theft in tunnels, including an axe, a jigsaw, and other tools commonly associated with the crime. A suspect, badly burnt, remains in hospital under police guard. The utility has urged members of the public to refrain from going to the substation for safety reasons.
City Power could not provide an estimated restoration time, citing the need for teams to complete necessary cleaning, checks, and restoration work. The utility will carry out repairs in stages, with sections of the network being returned to service one at a time. This approach is necessary to ensure that each section of the network is checked and confirmed safe before being restored.
The heat from the fire was too intense for teams to safely continue working on Sunday, forcing repairs to resume on Monday. City Power said that temperatures inside the affected area had remained too high for teams to work safely. Crews started by cleaning the affected infrastructure, replacing stolen equipment, and carrying out tests to establish which parts of the network could safely be restored.
The smoke from the fire cleared on Sunday, allowing for an assessment of the damage and the release of the area for repairs. City Power teams then began working on the basics, including cleaning and replacing equipment. The utility has asked people to keep away from the site and avoid speaking to technicians, as this may delay the work.
City Power's goal is to restore electricity to affected customers as different sections of the network are safely brought back into operation. The utility is working to complete the necessary repairs and restore power as soon as possible. However, no timeline has been provided for the restoration of electricity.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, with City Power cooperating with the police. The utility has emphasized the importance of safety and is working to ensure that the repairs are carried out safely and efficiently.
Key points
- City Power begins staged repairs after Central Substation fire cuts electricity to parts of Johannesburg CBD.
- Suspected tampering may have triggered the explosion and subsequent fire.
- No estimated restoration time has been provided.
