[UPDATE] Johannesburg Lights Up After Weeks-Long Power Outage
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Published by Dimphotsentle Pule
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – May 11, 2024 – Relief is finally in sight for Johannesburg residents who have endured nearly two weeks of darkness following a devastating underground fire. City Power, the city’s utility company, anticipates full power restoration by Saturday afternoon.
The blaze, ignited by cable theft and vandalism on the M1 highway, crippled power supply to large swathes of the city center, including Braamfontein and surrounding areas. Thousands of residents, including students at the University of the Witwatersrand, were plunged into darkness on Workers’ Day, May 1st.
City Power has faced an uphill battle in restoring power, encountering setbacks like faulty connections that caused temporary blackouts. However, they have managed to re-energize Parktown and a section of Braamfontein. Their current focus is on Jorrisen Street, De Korte Street, Juta Street, and Siemens Street, densely populated areas with a significant student population.
“We understand the immense hardship this outage has caused,” said a City Power spokesperson. “Our teams are working tirelessly around the clock to ensure all affected areas have electricity as soon as possible.”
The M1 fire resulted in significant damage to underground infrastructure, causing City Power to incur an estimated R160 million ($98,000 USD) in repairs. This incident underscores the ongoing challenge of cable theft, which not only disrupts essential services but also creates a substantial financial burden.
Johannesburg residents are hopeful that Saturday will indeed bring an end to the power woes. City Power has promised continuous updates and will communicate any unforeseen delays.
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