Pretoria East reels as substation fire leaves thousands in the dark

A major substation fire has left parts of Pretoria East without power for an extended period, sparking community protests. The Koedoespoort Substation caught fire, likely from a lightning strike, causing widespread blackouts in areas including East Lynne and Jan Niemand Park. While some power has been restored, many residents remain without electricity, leading to frustration and street demonstrations demanding faster action from the City of Tshwane.

The outage has severely disrupted daily life, forcing households to discard spoiled food and manage without essential services. Local businesses have suffered significant financial losses due to non-functional refrigeration and forced closures. The failure also triggered secondary trips in other substations, extending the blackout’s reach to additional neighborhoods.

City crews and contractors are working to repair damaged cables and transformers, with some progress made in restoring the supply. Officials acknowledge the complexity of the repairs and are adjusting protection systems to prevent further trips. The incident highlights aging infrastructure and the vulnerability of the grid to extreme weather, raising calls for long-term upgrades and improved maintenance to avoid future crises.