A generator brought in by City Power to restore electricity to parts of Jukskei Park has been running for several weeks, leaving residents grateful for the power but concerned about noise, fumes and the lack of clarity over repairs to the area’s damaged substation.

Resident Jobst Schulte-Brader said the generator was brought in after freezing temperatures that hit Johannesburg caused several substations across the area to fail. Schulte-Brader said the substation serving his street was among those that could not be repaired at the time, while much of the surrounding area had its electricity restored. “Luckily for us, City Power brought this generator for us, so we have power,” said Schulte-Brader.

He said the generator had been operating for about four to five weeks, but residents had received little information about when the substation would be repaired or how long the generator would remain in place. “I don’t want to rock the boat. I’m really grateful that we have this generator because, until now, the substation still doesn’t work, but every attempt to find out what the solution is or what’s happening, we get nothing.”

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While the generator has provided a temporary solution, Schulte-Brader said its continued operation has become a concern for residents living nearby. He said the generator produces noise around the clock and fumes that can be noticed inside homes.

The location of the generator is another concern, according to Schulte-Brader, as it is positioned near a through road and a curve. He said the situation was particularly difficult for households with young children. “We have a little baby here in the house. My daughter is coming from Cape Town with a little child next week. This is a bother.”

Schulte-Brader said the noise also affected residents at night, with the fumes becoming noticeable when they woke up. “There’s still some issues with electricity in the area on occasions, but there’s got to be a solution.”

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the generator was installed after the failure of the ring main unit (RMU) at the transformer substation (TSS) on August 18, 2026. He said the generator was installed as a temporary measure to keep affected customers supplied with electricity while awaiting the delivery and installation of the replacement RMU. “The generator was intended to provide a temporary electricity supply, while the faulty RMU was being replaced.”

He said the replacement RMU was specialised equipment that had to be sourced before the permanent repair could proceed. “The new RMU was delivered on September 9, and the installation process will begin on September 10.”

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City Power currently anticipates completing the installation by September 11, subject to progress during the installation and testing process. “Once the RMU has been installed, tested and returned to service, customers will be transferred back to the normal electricity supply and the temporary generator will be removed.”
On residents’ concerns about the generator’s noise, smoke and reported diesel spillage, Mangena said City Power was aware of the issues. “Based on the expert assessment received, the generator’s noise levels are within the permitted range for this type of equipment. The reported smoke and minor diesel spillage are being attended to. The generator will continue to be inspected and monitored while it remains in operation.”

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