Joburg inner city enters 30th day without power as businesses count the cost

Johannesburg’s inner city has entered its 30th day without a reliable electricity supply, with residents and business owners confronting City Power officials over delays in restoring power.

The confrontation unfolded outside the Central Substation on Thursday, as frustrated residents demanded answers and a firm timeline for the restoration of electricity.

City Power had promised a full switch-on by midday, but several streets remained without power, leaving businesses and households in Marshalltown and surrounding areas in limbo.

One angry resident said the prolonged outage was putting jobs and businesses at risk.

“You understand the anxiety we are causing? People are going to lose jobs here. People are losing jobs, they’re losing businesses. You are causing anxiety, you are causing depression, you are causing job shedding in the inner city. Enter inside and monitor the operation. Give me timeline, timeline.”

For some businesses, the month-long outage has come at a steep financial cost, with owners spending thousands of rands on diesel and petrol to keep generators running.

Business owners and local administrators say some operations have spent as much as R30 000 a month on fuel, putting further pressure on already struggling businesses.

The prolonged outage has also disrupted daily life, with residents reporting spoiled food, matric learners studying in the dark and people living in high-rise buildings struggling with water supply.

Frustrated business owner, Khadija Tilly, says City Power’s handling of the crisis has compounded the impact of the outage.

“There is incompetency, there’s a lack of communication, there’s a lack of trying to do work. Why must this, we are all paying citizens. So all the extra money that we have is going where? Into making sure that our businesses are running by a generator.”

City Power says extensive repairs and safety testing have been carried out at the Central Substation following three separate fire and vandalism incidents.

The utility suspects organised criminal syndicates are behind the attacks, after tools including axes and other heavy equipment were found in underground tunnels.

But residents say identifying those responsible is not enough, arguing that critical electricity infrastructure must be better protected while urgent restoration remains the priority.

City Power is now working to fully energise the substation, with residents hoping the switch-on will finally bring an end to nearly a month of darkness.

WATCH: Tensions rise outside Central Substation as Joburg CBD residents confront City Power over ongoing outages.

Despite a 12:00 PM restoration promise, some streets remain without power.

Residents have spent up to 30 days in the dark.

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— Ndashe (@ndasheii) October 8, 2026

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe