Johannesburg residents are gearing up for an 8-hour power outage this Sunday, 5 October 2025, as City Power carries out essential maintenance on two key substations. The outage, which will affect various parts of the inner city, will take place from 8 am to 4 pm. The utility stresses that this planned interruption is vital to prevent even worse unplanned power cuts in the future.
“These interruptions are disruptive, but they’re necessary to ensure the grid stays stable and secure,” said a City Power spokesperson. “Our teams will be upgrading and replacing outdated equipment that would otherwise cause more severe outages.”
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Why This Maintenance Matters
The ongoing power challenges in Johannesburg are not new. Overloaded transformers, aging infrastructure, and theft are key issues. While City Power’s planned outages are inconvenient, they are seen as essential to maintaining grid integrity.
Energy analyst Kabelo Motloung explains, “The city can’t function properly without proactive maintenance. While it’s frustrating for residents and businesses, it ensures we avoid worse blackouts in the future. Routine maintenance now will save us from longer, unplanned power failures later.”
Despite the necessity, residents will be impacted, as small businesses, homes, and public services depend on electricity for refrigeration, Wi-Fi, and security systems. The scheduled outage will affect several key neighborhoods, further highlighting the need for infrastructure updates.
Areas Affected by the Outage
City Power has confirmed that the following areas will be without power from 8 am to 4 pm on Sunday, 5 October 2025:
- Van Beek Substation (08:00–16:00)
- Jeppestown
- Drose Park
- City & Suburban
- Selby Substation (08:00–16:00)
- Park Central
- Village Main (Extensions 1 & 2)
- Wemmer
- Marshalltown & Marshalltown Extension 1
- New Centre & New Centre Extension 1
- Village Deep
- Selby & Selby Extensions 2, 3, 4, 6, and 21
- Salisbury Claims
- City & Suburban Extensions 1 & 2
- Ferreiras Dorp Extension 2
Residents in these areas are advised to turn off sensitive appliances ahead of the outage, and keep them turned off until power is restored.
Monday’s Maintenance Adds Pressure
The power interruption isn’t just a one-off. City Power is also conducting maintenance at the James Crescent Switching Station on Monday, 29 September 2025, from 9 am to 5 pm. The maintenance will affect areas in Midrand, including:
- James Crescent Road
- Parts of Pretoria Road and Richards Drive
- Mondi Recycle, Momentum Park, Famous Brands, Pro Build
- Pendulum Road, Turbeit Avenue, Suttie Close, Queen Avenue, King Lane, Cupid Street, Jubilee Avenue
For businesses in these areas, Monday’s outage adds to the frustration of lost trading hours, compounding the impact of the Sunday outage.
Citizen Concerns
The power cuts bring mixed feelings across Johannesburg. Small business owner Nthabiseng Khumalo, who runs a café, voiced concern over the financial toll. “Sunday is usually our busiest day. Without power, we can’t operate our coffee machines or fridges. It’s a full day of lost sales we can’t recover.”
Ensuring Safety During Outages
City Power also advised all residents to treat their electrical supply points as live during outages, as power could be restored at any time. To avoid accidents, residents should avoid switching on electrical devices until they’re sure the supply has stabilized.
Emergency services have also warned against using unsafe alternatives like candles without holders or operating generators indoors. A rise in fire-related incidents often accompanies planned or unplanned blackouts, and the risks are especially high during long outages.
Understanding the Bigger Picture
City Power’s rolling maintenance is a symptom of deeper issues within Johannesburg’s power infrastructure. The city faces growing challenges as it expands rapidly, with overstrained substations and illegal connections causing persistent overloads. Dr. Tebogo Mokoena, an energy researcher, warned that unless the city upgrades its infrastructure, these outages could become more frequent.
“This isn’t just about one day of inconvenience,” says Mokoena. “It’s about creating a resilient, future-proof grid. Without this preventive work, we risk continued power crises that could hurt both businesses and families.”
Tips to Manage the 8-Hour Outage
1. Charge Essential Devices Early
Ensure phones, laptops, and rechargeable lights are fully charged before 8 am.
2. Pre-Cook Meals
Take advantage of the morning hours to prepare meals for the evening, minimizing disruption during the outage.
3. Keep Fridge Doors Closed
Limit the number of times the fridge door is opened to preserve cold storage.
4. Consider Backup Power
Small inverters, solar lights, and gas stoves can alleviate some of the frustration caused by long power cuts.
5. Stay Informed
Download the City Power app or visit their website for updates on the schedule and any changes.
Turning Blackouts into Opportunity
While this weekend’s planned outages may frustrate, they highlight the urgency of a long-term solution for Johannesburg’s power grid. As City Power’s spokesperson pointed out: “The system only works when everyone contributes to the utility, local government, businesses, and residents.”
Gauteng’s power challenges cannot be solved in isolation. Citizens must take an active role by reporting illegal connections, conserving energy, and supporting sustainable energy solutions. Municipalities must prioritize infrastructure upgrades, and businesses can invest in backup power systems to reduce reliance on the grid.
As residents, let’s take responsibility for our part in managing energy consumption. Encourage sustainable power usage and invest in alternative energy sources. Together, we can help reduce the frequency of outages, making Johannesburg’s energy grid more reliable for everyone.
Johannesburg, stay prepared. Know your scheduled outage times, plan accordingly, and use this time to explore sustainable energy solutions. The challenge of blackouts can be turned into an opportunity to build resilience in our community. Share your strategies with others and help create a more energy-efficient Gauteng.
