SABC fights to stay on air after explosion deepens Auckland Park power crisis
The public broadcaster has been forced to rely on emergency power.
The SABC is struggling to maintain its television, radio, and digital services after a power outage and subsequent explosion at a substation in Auckland Park disrupted its electricity supply. The public broadcaster has been forced to operate on emergency generator power, which has limited its ability to transmit services across certain platforms.
On 10 November 2026, City Power stated that it could not confirm when normal electricity supply would be restored following the explosion. SABC's technical teams are working tirelessly to minimize service interruptions and restore affected services as quickly as possible. The broadcaster has apologized to its audiences and stakeholders and will provide further updates through its official channels.
Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi has been informed of the situation and is working closely with the SABC group chief executive officer to monitor the progress of repair plans. The minister's spokesperson confirmed that a technical team is working on repairing the damage to the Mayfair Substation and exploring alternative supply routes to restore electricity to those affected by the outage.
The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies is in constant communication with SABC management to coordinate efforts and minimize any further disruptions.
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Also reported by 1 other outlet
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