Four days later, Tshwane residents still in the dark as power restoration continues

Mapaballo Borotho

Pretoria residents have endured four days without power as Tshwane works to repair damaged electricity feeders.
Technicians have completed key joint connections and are now filling the oil-filled cables to ensure safe restoration.
However, areas such as the CBD and Pretoria West remain without electricity, with no clear timeline for when supply will be restored.

Residents in Pretoria’s CBD and surrounding areas have been without electricity for four consecutive days following damage to critical infrastructure.

The City of Tshwane’s Energy and Electricity Business Unit has been working around the clock to restore the 132kV Bellom–Princess Park feeders. In the early hours of Sunday morning, teams successfully joined two critical joint.

Tshwane’s spokesperson Lindela Mashigo has pleaded with affected residents to be patient as repairs continue.

“Building on yesterday’s efforts, where the teams laboured around the clock to expose the damaged cables and prepare the joints, attention has now shifted to the next delicate stage, which is filling the oil-filled cables with insulating oil to ensure stability and safety,” said Mashigo.

Despite progress, several areas, including the Pretoria CBD, Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, Pretoria West Industrial, and surrounding communities, remain without power.

The city has not yet provided a confirmed timeline for full restoration.