Johannesburg’s electricity network came under heavy strain as freezing rain and pockets of snow swept parts of Gauteng, prompting City Power technical teams to work around the clock amid a backlog of faults and almost 3 700 outage calls across eight service centres.
What is happening and what residents should do
Inclement weather has both increased demand on the network and delayed restoration efforts, City Power said. Residents are urged to reduce electricity consumption, particularly during peak hours, to help stabilise supplies while repair crews prioritise safe working conditions in hazardous weather.
- Nearly 3 700 outage calls were logged across eight service delivery centres.
- Restoration efforts have been impeded by the cold, heavy rain and snow, which affect excavation and underground cable repairs.
- Water supply in some areas was affected after an outage at the Crosby pump station rendered pumps inoperable, impacting the Hursthill and Brixton reservoirs.
Safety first for crews and the public
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said technical teams were working continuously but warned that the overall backlog remains exceptionally high as new faults continue to be reported. He emphasised that the utility would not compromise the safety of employees, contractors or the public by pushing repairs in dangerous conditions.
"Overall backlog remains exceptionally high as new faults continue to be reported," City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said.
The combination of increased demand during cold weather and weather-related delays to excavation and cable work has made rapid restoration difficult. City Power specifically pointed to illegal connections, meter bypassing and unplanned developments as factors that worsen outages and place infrastructure beyond its designed capacity.
Wider consequences and context
Beyond the immediate inconvenience for households and businesses, the outages have exposed longer-term issues in the network. Julia Fish, director of JoburgCAN, said the outages are revealing years of inadequate maintenance and investment in the electricity system. She called on the City of Johannesburg to ensure system maintenance and infrastructure investment are prioritised ahead of winter to reduce the risk of similar events.
Fish highlighted that while City Power’s capital expenditure budget appears relatively healthy, constraints on the operations budget have affected areas such as site security and supply-chain maintenance. She also criticised the city’s historical practice of transferring funds from municipal utilities, a process she said has not always been reversed.
Immediate impacts: numbers at a glance
| Item | Reported figure / effect |
|---|---|
| Outage calls logged | ~3 700 |
| Service delivery centres affected | 8 |
| Water infrastructure affected | Crosby pump station outage; Hursthill and Brixton reservoirs impacted |
Practical advice for residents
As conditions remain cold and wet, follow these practical steps to reduce risk and help relieve pressure on the grid:
- Reduce non-essential electricity use during peak times (early morning and evening).
- Unplug sensitive appliances to avoid damage when power is restored.
- Conserve water where possible if your area is affected by pump outages.
- Report new faults to City Power through official channels rather than relying on social media, to help prioritise emergency repairs.
- Avoid attempting to clear or repair electrical faults yourself; leave work on underground cables and substations to trained crews.
The South African Weather Service indicated the cold, heavy rain and disruptive snow are expected to clear by Friday, offering some relief if conditions follow the forecast. However, the episode underscores vulnerability in ageing infrastructure and the operational challenges utilities face during extreme winter weather.
Authorities and civic groups have underlined that while urgent weather-related fixes are being carried out, longer-term maintenance and investment will be needed to build resilience and reduce the risk of future widespread outages.
