Bree substation explosion: City Power races to restore electricity in Joburg CBD
Mapaballo Borotho
- Repairs are ongoing at the Bree Substation after Tuesday’s explosion left parts of Johannesburg without electricity.
- Preliminary findings suggest possible tampering caused the blast, which injured three security guards.
- City Power says there’s no timeline for full restoration but teams are working around the clock to restore supply safely.
Repairs are underway at the Bree Substation following Tuesday night’s explosion, which left several parts of Johannesburg without power.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said technical teams have made steady progress, safely isolating Transformer No. 2 on the 88kV side to allow for detailed inspections and repair work. Teams are also assessing the extent and cost of the damage.
“Feederboard No. 2 has been isolated to enable the safe opening and inspection of the 11kV busbars for any faults before they are brought back online,” Mangena explained.
Meanwhile, Transformers 3 and 4 have been successfully re-energised, and supply through Feederboard 4 has been restored, bringing back electricity to some parts of the Johannesburg CBD.
Mangena confirmed that preliminary findings point to possible tampering as a cause of the blast. A burnt Stanley knife was found near the damaged cables, suggesting interference that may have triggered the fault.
The explosion, which occurred shortly after 22:00 on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, left three on-site security guards injured, one of them remains hospitalised.
For safety reasons, the Bree Substation remains partially switched off while inspections and risk assessments continue.
Mangena added that there is currently no estimated time for full restoration, but updates will be communicated as more information becomes available.
“Customers are urged to unplug electrical appliances to avoid damage from power surges when supply is restored. City Power apologises for the inconvenience and assures residents that teams are working around the clock to restore power safely and as quickly as possible,” he said.
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