The power outages experienced by Kempton Park since the beginning of the year add up to nearly one month.
By middle August 2025, residents and businesses had experienced 594,5 hours of outages – equal to 24 days, 18 hours and 30 minutes.
This figure is based on confirmed media reports, community input and records kept by the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus).
The figure can be broken down as follows:
Planned Maintenance
Planned maintenance has left Kempton Park without power for 184,5 hours (7 days, 16 hours, 30 minutes) this year.
Most of this was due to the upgrade of the Isando substation in April, accounting for 157 hours of outages. Other scheduled power interruptions include those on 13 March (8,5 hours), 27 May (11 hours) and 14 July (8 hours).
The Freedom Front Plus’s records confirm that these scheduled outages hit the industrial area the hardest, exacerbating financial losses for local businesses dependent on a continuous power supply.
Theft and Vandalism
Cable theft and vandalism remain the most devastating causes of power outages, totalling 410 hours (17 days, 2 hours) this year.
Media reports confirm 122 hours of incidents in May and July. Information from the Freedom Front Plus and community reports indicate an additional 288 hours.
The following neighbourhoods were the hardest hit:
- Terenure: Three days without power.
- Birchleigh: Five days without power.
- Bonaero Park: Four days without power.
These figures demonstrate that cable theft and substation vandalism are not isolated incidents, but a chronic, organised assault on Kempton Park’s energy infrastructure.
Vandalism and maintenance outages total 594,5 hours (24 days, 18 hours, 30 minutes) in just over half a year.
In the party’s view, this figure underscores the severe extent of the power supply collapse affecting residents, businesses and schools on a daily basis. This should not become the norm.
The Freedom Front Plus demands that Ekurhuleni urgently intensify security at substations and along cable routes, improve its planning and communication regarding scheduled maintenance, and provide transparent reports to residents on the causes of planned outages and restoration timelines.
Kempton Park residents and businesses deserve better than being left in the dark.
Freedom Front Plus Youth Wing: The FF Plus has a youth wing called the FF Plus Youth.