Residents of Marshalltown in the Joburg CBD are facing significant challenges due to repeated electricity outages. A third fire at City Power's Central Substation in two months has exacerbated the situation, with some parts of the area experiencing prolonged outages since January. The disruptions have affected various aspects of daily life, including food, work, schooling, transport, communication, and access to water in high-rise buildings.
The outages have been particularly difficult for families with children preparing for examinations. ActionSA councillor Lebohang Modukanene, who lives in Harrison House, said the outages have made it challenging for her child to study effectively. Modukanene had to send her child to her sister in Orlando due to the difficulties posed by the outages. She expressed concern that not all residents have the luxury of finding alternative solutions.
Residents have reported losing large amounts of food during the outages. One resident, Luthando, said she had thrown away groceries worth about R3,000 and had to rely on takeaways. She stated that the continuous outages have been an significant inconvenience and that she can no longer work from home due to the unreliable network.
The outages have also forced residents to change their routines and incur additional expenses. Another resident, Lesiba Thole, living at Absa Towers, said residents have been queuing for showers and relying on communal freezers, gas cylinders, candles, and takeaways. Thole, who runs a business in the CBD, said the cuts have been affecting his income and that nearby businesses, including the Carlton Centre, have also been badly affected.
Local business owners are also feeling the strain of the power cuts. Lucas, a barber shop owner, said he was buying diesel almost every week to keep the lights on, costing him at least R3,000. The repeated power cuts have pushed households and businesses to breaking point, with some considering moving out of the area.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena acknowledged that the utility needs to strengthen protection for its inner-city infrastructure. Mangena said the utility's core duty is keeping the lights on, but they are devoting considerable time and resources to security operations. He identified weak access control as a risk in the inner city tunnel network and noted that poor lighting and ventilation in parts of the network add to the difficulty of inspecting and securing it.
Mangena emphasized that the repeated theft and vandalism incidents show that stronger security and sustained policing are necessary. The utility is working to address the challenges posed by the power cuts, but residents and businesses continue to bear the brunt of the outages. The situation remains a significant concern for those living and working in Marshalltown.
Key points
- The outages have affected food, work, schooling, transport, communication, and access to water in high-rise buildings.
- Residents have incurred additional expenses due to the outages, including the cost of takeaways, candles, and gas cylinders.
- City Power is working to strengthen protection for its inner-city infrastructure and address the challenges posed by the power cuts.
