City Power says R24 mln needed to fully restore power after explosion

The City Power utility in Johannesburg has estimated that it will cost R24 million to fully restore power to essential businesses and a significant number of households following a second explosion at its Mayfair substation last weekend. In the worst-case scenario, the restoration process could take up to 14 days. Mayfair, Auckland Park, Crown Mines, and Vrededorp are still without power.

City Power's Group Head of Operations in the Southern region, Noel Maso, has called on the community to report any vandalism and theft. Maso stated, "We understand the situation and please be vigilant out there and help us guard against the scourge of vandalism which ultimately has caused the situation we are in right now." The cost of restoration and replacement currently stands at R24.8 million, which is an unexpected expense that will impact some planned activities.

Repeated blackouts caused by theft and vandalism have affected the Mayfair substation, leading to disruptions in power supply to areas including Mayfair, Crown Mines, Amalgam, and neighboring communities. Additionally, City Power has identified a fault at its Crown Substation, causing interruptions to supply for Mayfair, Crown Mines, Amalgam, and surrounding neighborhoods.

The Sentech Tower in Brixton has also been impacted by the power outage. Maso assured that City Power technicians are working tirelessly to resolve the fault, with normal supply expected to be restored by Sunday. Since last Sunday, suburbs such as Mayfair, Brixton, Crosby, and Auckland Park have been experiencing prolonged power cuts, severely affecting critical services such as the national broadcaster SABC, Sentech, and Garden City Hospital.