City Power has completed 98% of the first phase of repairs at the Mayfair Substation as work continues to restore electricity to areas affected by a fire at the facility.
The substation caught fire on Sunday morning, resulting in power outages in Auckland Park and neighbouring areas.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said that while progress was encouraging, the damage to the substation was extensive, and significant work remained before all affected customers could be reconnected.
He said the badly damaged electrical board, which helps distribute electricity to different areas, would have to be removed and replaced with new equipment.
Technicians on site are replacing and laying new cables, installing equipment that connects and controls electricity supply to different areas, and repairing damage to the substation’s roof.
“At Hursthill Substation, the transformer has been switched on successfully and is ready to supply electricity. Teams are expected to complete the final cable connections by midday. The cables connecting Hursthill to Mayfair Substation have also been checked and are in good condition, meaning they are ready to be used,” said Mangena.
He added that electricity supply to essential services, including Netcare Garden City Hospital and Sentech, was expected to be restored gradually later on Sunday evening.
However, Mangena warned that some affected customers might only have their electricity restored on Sunday, while the final group could remain without power until the following weekend.
“These are estimated timelines and may change depending on how the repairs and safety tests progress. Meanwhile, City Power is finalising two technical reports to establish what caused the incidents at the substation. These reports will provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding the damage,” he said.
