The latest power outage in Germiston, following a fire at the Wadeville 2nd Input Substation on 31 January 2026 that has left thousands of residents and businesses without electricity for days, is not an isolated incident.
This is just one in a series of fires and technical failures at substations across the Ekurhuleni Metro in recent months.
Since mid-2025, major fires and damage have been reported at substations including Bosworth (September 2025), Thokoza Z7 (September 2025), Palm Ridge (July 2025) and Dukathole (June 2025).
The causes range from cable problems and power surges to illegal connections and ageing equipment. This points to an underlying problem of insufficient maintenance and a lack of preventive upgrades.
The situation not only disrupts residents’ daily lives, but also causes serious financial losses for businesses while creating a safety crisis in neighbourhoods and business areas shrouded in darkness.
The Freedom Front Plus wishes to point out that these recurring incidents reflect a systemic problem. Infrastructure is overloaded, cable tunnels are not regularly inspected and vandalism is not effectively combated.
The Metro’s failure to budget for maintenance and upgrades has created a crisis directly impacting residents.
The Freedom Front Plus, therefore, demands:
- A comprehensive, independent investigation into all recent fires and the Metro’s maintenance practices.
- A comprehensive plan with clear timelines for upgrading substations and steps for preventing future fires.
- Accountability for all relevant officials and political leadership.
Ekurhuleni residents deserve reliable power supply and a municipality that puts their needs first.
The upcoming local government election offers Ekurhuleni residents a golden opportunity to let the ANC/EFF coalition know that it failed to prioritise the community’s interests.
This coalition should be replaced with a government that genuinely values the people’s needs above political agendas.
FF+ Manifesto on Effective policing: Supporting effective law enforcement and crime prevention.
Mr. 44
Fun South African Fact: The Karoo region in the Western Cape is home to some of the best fossils of early dinosaurs. In fact, it is estimated that some 80% of the mammalian fossils found to date were found in the Karoo.
Old Orange Eyes
Eish! – an exclamation [Ay-sh] or [ee-sh] A Khoi term usually expressed when someone experiences surprise or shock.