Areas Affected by Power Outages in Johannesburg

Posted on Author Dlamini Blessing

Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic hub, frequently experiences power outages due to aging infrastructure, maintenance needs, and unforeseen incidents like fires or equipment failures. These disruptions, managed by City Power and occasionally Eskom, impact residents and businesses across various suburbs. Understanding which areas are affected by power outages is crucial for planning and preparedness. This article provides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of Johannesburg suburbs impacted by recent and planned power outages, drawing on reliable sources and ongoing reports. By addressing the latest incidents, scheduled maintenance, and practical tips for residents, this evergreen guide ensures you stay informed.

Areas Affected by Power Outages in Johannesburg

Power outages in Johannesburg stem from various causes, including emergency repairs, planned maintenance, and incidents like fires or equipment damage. Below is a detailed list of areas recently or frequently affected, based on credible reports from 2024 and 2025, supplemented by ongoing monitoring of City Power and Eskom updates.

Recent Unplanned Outages: Affected Suburbs

Unplanned outages often result from unexpected events like cable faults, transformer failures, or environmental factors. Here are key areas impacted by recent incidents:

  • Braamfontein, Parktown West, Newtown Junction, De Korte North, Smith West (May 2025): A major outage occurred due to an 88kV circuit tripping along the Double Decker route in Braamfontein, caused by a fire. City Power reported restoration efforts pending safety clearance.

  • Roodepoort Areas (January 2025): The Kloofendal Switching Station outage affected Constantia Kloof, Kloofendaal, Constantia Kloof Extension 8. Sixteen mini substations remained offline until cable repairs were completed.

  • Midrand Suburbs (January 2025): A transformer failure at Grand Central Substation disrupted power in Randjespark, Halfway House, Boulders, and surrounding areas. City Power reported 87 open calls, with 29 logged in a single day.

  • Inner City and Surrounding Areas (January 2025): The Kazerne Substation failure impacted City, Suburban, Marshalltown, Maboneng, Jewel City, Jeppe, Kwa Mai Mai, Village Main. Repairs were delayed due to safety concerns.

  • Randburg Suburbs (July 2023, indicative of recurring issues): Areas like Bromhof, Boskruin, Northwold, Sonneglans, Blairgowrie, Fontainebleau, Ferndale, Craighall, Victory Park, Westcliff, Olivedale, Windsor, Juskei Park, North Riding, Sharonlea, Bellairs Park, Kensington B faced outages lasting up to 18 hours, often due to transformer issues or overloads.

  • Mondeor, Mulbarton, Robertsham (August 2024): Veld fires caused the Prospect Substation in Elandsfontein to trip, affecting these substations. Partial restoration was achieved, but some areas remained without power.

  • Roodepoort (April 2024): A widespread outage from Kloofendal and Christian de Wet substations impacted Horison, Horison View, Florida Park, Georgina, Roodekrans, Wilropark, Allen’s Nek, Helderkruin, Eagle Canyon, Ruimsig, Wilgehuiwel, Constantia Kloof, Strubensvalley, Weltevredenpark, Honeydew, Kloofendal. The cause was faulty overhead transmission lines damaged by a fallen tree.

  • Witpoortjie, Grobler Park (April 2024): The Penny Street Substation outage affected these areas, with operators working on-site to resolve issues.

  • Weltevredenpark (April 2024): The JG Strydom Switching Station outage, caused by damaged cables, impacted this suburb.

Planned Outages: Scheduled Maintenance Areas

City Power and Eskom schedule outages to maintain and upgrade the electricity network, aiming to improve long-term reliability. Below are areas recently or soon to be affected by planned outages:

  • Mondeor Substation Areas (April 7, 2025): An 8-hour outage from 8:00 to 16:00 impacted Maredaale Ext. 2, 4, 9, 26; Ridgeway Ext. 2, 4, 8; Winchester Hills Ext. 1.

  • Midrand Areas (February 17, 2025): A planned 8-hour outage from 9:00 to 17:00 affected Midridge Park Ext. 13, Halfway Gardens Ext. 103, Erand Gardens Ext. 49.

  • Parkhurst Substation (February 19, 2025): Maintenance caused an 8-hour outage from 8:00 to 16:00 in Parkhurst and surrounding areas.

  • Kyalami Park SWS (February 20, 2025): A planned outage from 9:00 to 17:00 affected Kyalami Park and nearby suburbs.

  • Stormille Switching Station (February 21, 2025): An 8-hour outage from 8:00 to 16:00 impacted Stormille and surrounding areas.

  • Gressworld Substation (February 22, 2025): A 7-hour outage from 8:00 to 15:00 affected Linksfield North Ext. 7 and nearby areas.

  • City Deep and Southern Suburbs (April 21, 2024): A planned 8-hour outage from 8:00 to 16:00 affected City Deep Ext. 1, 2, 4, 6, 24; Droste Park Ext. 7; Electron; Elladoone; Elands Park; City and Suburban Ext. 3; Klipriviersberg Estate S.H.; Moffat View; Moffat View Ext. 3, 4; Regents Park Ext. 3, 4, 6; Roseacre; Roseacre Ext. 1; Rewlatch; Rewlatch Ext. 1, 2, 3, 6; Risina; Steeledale; South Hills; South Hills Ext. 1; The Hill Ext. 8; Tulisa Park; Tulisa Park Ext. 3, 5; Unigray.

  • Soweto and Braamfischerville (October 2024): Eskom scheduled 10-hour outages from 8:00 to 18:00 to replace rotten poles, affecting multiple suburbs.

Recurring and High-Risk Areas

Some Johannesburg suburbs experience frequent outages due to aging infrastructure or high demand. These include:

  • Roodepoort and Randburg: Substations like Kloofendal, Reefhaven, and Randburg 11kV are prone to overloads and cable faults.

  • Inner City: Kazerne and Rosebank substations often face failures, impacting densely populated areas like Marshalltown and Maboneng.

  • Midrand: Grand Central and other substations frequently report transformer issues, affecting business-heavy areas.

  • Soweto: Zola and other substations are vulnerable to fires and equipment damage, as seen in June 2024.

Causes of Power Outages in Johannesburg

Understanding the reasons behind outages helps residents prepare and advocate for improvements. Common causes include:

  • Infrastructure Issues: Aging cables, transformers, and substations, like those at Kloofendal or Kazerne, often fail under load.

  • Environmental Factors: Veld fires (e.g., Prospect Substation, August 2024) and fallen trees (e.g., Kloofendal, April 2024) damage transmission lines.

  • Maintenance Needs: Scheduled outages, like those in February 2025, are necessary to upgrade outdated networks but cause temporary disruptions.

  • Human Factors: Copper theft, vandalism, and stolen transformer oil (e.g., Randburg, July 2023) exacerbate outages.

  • Overloads: High demand, especially post-load shedding, causes substations like Randburg 11kV to trip.

How to Stay Informed About Power Outages

Residents can track outages and receive updates through reliable channels:

  • City Power Website and Social Media: City Power’s official site (www.citypower.co.za) and X account (@CityPowerJhb) provide real-time updates.

  • Eskom Notifications: For Eskom-managed areas, check www.eskom.co.za or @Eskom_SA on X.

  • Downdetector: This platform aggregates user reports on Eskom outages in Johannesburg (downdetector.co.za).

  • Johannesburg Power Outages Map: Poweroutage.co.za offers a dedicated platform for tracking outages citywide.

  • Local News Outlets: TimesLIVE, The Citizen, and EWN report on major outages.

Practical Tips for Coping with Power Outages

To minimize disruption during outages, consider these tips from City Power, Eskom, and local authorities:

  • Prepare an Emergency Kit: Keep a battery-powered torch, extra batteries, and a small LP gas lamp for lighting.

  • Stock Essentials: Store tinned foods, snacks, and boiled water in thermos flasks. Use a small LP gas heating ring for cooking.

  • Protect Appliances: Treat electricity points as live, as power may restore suddenly. Unplug sensitive devices to avoid surges.

  • Secure Access: Release automatic garage doors and switch electric gates to manual mode to avoid being locked out or in.

  • Preserve Food: Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A 4-hour outage typically won’t spoil food, and freezers can maintain safe temperatures for up to a day.

  • Stay Charged: Keep cell phones fully charged and consider a portable power station for small devices.

Economic and Social Impacts of Outages

Power outages in Johannesburg have broader implications, as highlighted by experts and reports:

  • Economic Losses: The South African energy crisis, including load shedding and outages, has reduced GDP by 1–1.3% annually since 2007, with daily losses of $85–230 million.

  • Small Businesses: In 2019, 85% of small business owners reported revenue losses due to outages, with 40% considering staff cuts or closure.

  • Crime Increase: Outages contribute to higher crime rates, including metal theft from substations, costing Eskom over R16.8 billion.

  • Public Health: In 2023, 80% of public healthcare facilities were affected, compromising patient care, especially in rural areas.

  • Public Sentiment: A 2022 University of Johannesburg study noted that frequent outages significantly reduced residents’ overall happiness.

Future Outlook and Improvements

City Power and Eskom are addressing Johannesburg’s outage challenges through:

  • Infrastructure Upgrades: Planned maintenance, like February 2025 outages, aims to replace outdated equipment.

  • Budget Allocations: For 2025–2026, City Power received R5.26 billion to improve infrastructure, though critics argue maintenance budgets remain inadequate.

  • Renewable Energy: Eskom’s improved coal plant performance (e.g., Kusile, Majuba) and potential solar investments may reduce outage frequency.

  • Community Engagement: City Power uses WhatsApp groups and social media to update stakeholders, fostering transparency.

However, challenges like mismanagement, corruption, and staffing shortages, as noted by DA shadow MMC Nico de Jager, persist. Residents are encouraged to advocate for better funding and oversight to ensure long-term reliability.

Conclusion

Power outages in Johannesburg, whether unplanned or scheduled, affect a wide range of suburbs, from Braamfontein to Roodepoort, Midrand to Soweto. By staying informed through City Power, Eskom, and local news, residents can prepare for disruptions. Practical measures, like stocking essentials and securing access, help mitigate impacts. While infrastructure upgrades and budget allocations offer hope, addressing systemic issues like mismanagement is critical. This guide, grounded in recent data and expert insights, equips Johannesburg residents with the knowledge to navigate outages effectively.