Thousands remain without power after second explosion at Joburg substation

Johannesburg – Thousands of residents and businesses in Johannesburg remain without electricity after a second explosion at City Power’s Mayfair Substation disrupted efforts to restore power following an earlier fire.

According to IOL, the latest explosion occurred on Monday evening, November 9, shortly after technical teams began restoring electricity at approximately 6pm.

The incident knocked out the entire substation, extending the outage to customers who had not initially been affected.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the fire department responded and contained the blaze before extensive damage could occur.

“The area has since been cordoned off and will remain restricted until it has been declared safe for technical teams to re-enter the station,” the utility said.

The second explosion followed a fire that broke out at the substation early on Sunday, November 8, damaging critical electricity infrastructure and leaving thousands of customers without power.

#CityPowerUpdates
#HursthillSDC

City Power has this morning started assessing the damage at Mayfair Substation following a secondary explosion, with technical teams working on repair plans and alternative supply routes to restore electricity to affected customers.^LP https://t.co/5GfStICD2k

— @CityPowerJhb (@CityPowerJhb) November 10, 2026

According to SABC News, the initial damage included seven cables, a transformer and electrical panels. Heavy overnight rainfall also hampered repair work.

The affected areas include Mayfair, Crown, Vrededorp, Brixton, Crosby, Pageview, Homestead Park and Amalgam. The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) premises in Auckland Park and Garden City Hospital in Mayfair have also been affected.

In a separate report, Jacaranda FM quoted Mangena as apologising for the disruption, acknowledging that customers had briefly regained electricity before the second explosion plunged the entire substation’s service area back into darkness.

“We understand the frustration and disruption caused to households and businesses, and key customers, particularly after customers had briefly regained electricity, and we apologise,” Mangena said.

The explosion has also disrupted water supplies and affected essential services, including healthcare facilities.

City Power’s technical teams began assessing the damage on Tuesday, November 10, and were preparing to remove burnt equipment, including dismantling the damaged panel.

Alternative electricity supply routes

The utility said arrangements were also being made to use dry ice to clean affected infrastructure and establish which equipment could be salvaged.

“The cause of the explosion remains unknown and will be determined through a thorough investigation,” City Power said.

Teams are also investigating alternative electricity supply routes, including through the Hursthill Substation, to establish whether power can be restored gradually while repairs continue.

Mangena told the SABC that work on cables supplying its Auckland Park premises was progressing, with electricity potentially being restored there by Wednesday afternoon. Other affected areas, including Brixton, Crosby and Pageview, remained without power.

City Power has not provided a confirmed restoration timeline for all affected areas, saying repairs will depend on the extent of the damage and the outcome of technical assessments.

The latest incident adds to concerns about the reliability of Johannesburg’s electricity infrastructure, following repeated substation-related disruptions in recent months.

Picture: Pixabay

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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