Widespread Power Outages Paralyse Tshwane

Tshwane is once again battling a citywide power crisis. Severe thunderstorms, flash floods, and substation fires have triggered major electricity outages and transport disruptions. This marks the second widespread power outage in the capital this month, leaving thousands of residents and businesses in the dark.

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Storms Trigger Power Grid Collapse

Power infrastructure buckled under pressure as a powerful cut-off low-pressure system dumped heavy rain over Gauteng this week. The South African Weather Service issued a level 4 yellow warning, predicting damaging winds and thunderstorms. Those warnings quickly materialized, as torrential downpours and lightning swept through Tshwane.

On Wednesday night, lightning or water ingress is believed to have sparked a fire at the Waltloo Transformer 1B shortly after midnight. The fire caused a domino effect, knocking out Rooiwal, Pyramid, Phumulani, Waltloo, and Koedoespoort substations. Thousands of homes and businesses lost power instantly.

City of Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed the city had to shut down power in most parts of Pretoria East to protect infrastructure and allow urgent repairs. Crews focused on replacing line isolators on the 132kV Njala line 1, which sustained damage during the power surge.

“Our energy teams had no choice but to implement emergency shutdowns,” said Mashigo. “This work is critical to avoid further destruction at the infeed station.”

Fire and Flooding Compound the Power Outage Crisis

While engineers scrambled to restore electricity, emergency services remained on high alert. City of Tshwane Emergency Medical Services responded to flooding, road accidents, and storm-related emergencies throughout the night. The heavy rains didn’t let up, making repair work more difficult and dangerous.

By Thursday, technicians had managed to bring Phumulani and Koedoespoort substations back online. However, Waltloo remains offline indefinitely due to the extensive damage caused by the fire. Restoration work on the burnt transformer could take several days, possibly longer.

The power outage in Waltloo impacts several major areas, including the Ford Motor Company SA’s main plant, Waltloo Industrial, Silverton extensions, Brandwag, and the N4 Gateway business hub. Mashigo admitted that there is currently no confirmed timeline for when power will return.

“We’re dealing with complex repair operations,” he explained. “The Waltloo substation will stay offline until the transformer is fully repaired or replaced.”

Brakfontein Setback Still Fresh

This month’s chaos comes just days after the city wrapped up lengthy repairs at the Brakfontein substation. A fire there had left residents in Rooihuiskraal North, The Reeds, Wierdapark, and Heuweloord without power for more than 11 days. Persistent rainfall delayed the work, extending outages and increasing public frustration.

Residents across the metro now fear a repeat of that experience, especially as Tshwane’s power grid continues to show signs of strain under severe weather pressure.

Sinkhole Concerns: Steve Biko Road Closed

The trouble didn’t end with the blackout. City officials also closed a key section of Steve Biko Road this week after discovering a large erosion hole beneath the road surface between Trevenna and Francis Baard roads.

Tshwane MMC for Transport Tlangi Mogale visited the site and confirmed the formation of an erosion hole. Although initial fears pointed to a sinkhole, geological experts determined the damage was due to water erosion rather than dolomite collapse.

“We’re still trying to determine the water source,” said Mogale. “The hole is circular and extends beneath the road. While it’s not a sinkhole, it poses serious risks to vehicles and pedestrians.”

A City in Crisis: A City-Wide Power Outage

The back-to-back substation failures, prolonged power outages, and road collapses expose serious cracks in Tshwane’s aging infrastructure. With climate change intensifying rainfall and storm patterns, the city can no longer rely on reactive maintenance alone.

Urban planners and city officials must prioritize infrastructure upgrades that withstand extreme weather. That includes waterproofing substations, reinforcing stormwater systems, and investing in smarter grid management.

For residents, the outages and road closures serve as a wake-up call. As the city struggles to keep pace with the growing pressure on its infrastructure, communities are left feeling vulnerable, frustrated, and desperate for long-term solutions.

Tshwane Must Act Now

The time for patchwork fixes has passed. Tshwane faces a new normal where severe weather events pose an increasing threat to critical infrastructure. City leaders must move swiftly to repair the damage and adopt a proactive, long-term strategy to protect the metro’s future.

Until then, Tshwane’s residents will continue to live with the uncertainty of blackouts, road closures, and a growing sense that the capital is one storm away from crisis.