Dangerous power surges spark safety concerns in Germiston homes
Community members report ongoing electrical faults and warn that delays in intervention could result in life-threatening incidents.
A potentially deadly electrical fault threatens residents in parts of Germiston.
Barnard Street and the surrounding areas grappled with low-voltage issues after a serious power outage on 23 April.
However, since power was restored, households have reported an unstable electricity supply characterised by dangerously fluctuating voltage levels.
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Residents report experiencing electric shocks in their showers and when touching appliances and metal surfaces. They cannot use household appliances because the low voltage delivers insufficient power to operate them.
Despite several calls logged with the city’s energy department, many closed without action, the issue persists.
Resident Sonja Kern, acting on behalf of several affected community members, continues to escalate the matter. Follow-up calls to senior officials have yielded verbal assurances, but to date, no practical intervention has occurred.
“The voltage is either too low or spikes so high that it damages electronics and becomes a serious safety hazard. The worst part is being shocked in your shower.
“That’s not just a fault; it’s a life-threatening emergency. We have families with young children and elderly people who also need to plug in oxygen machines,” said Kern.
The Germiston City News spoke with the MMC for Energy, Mzayifani Ngwenya, about the matter.
“Engineers are on-site investigating the issue. The power fluctuations and subsequent electrical feedback seem to affect random homes in the area, suggesting a serious technical fault in the supply infrastructure—possibly related to grounding or transformer failure following the outage,” explained Ngwenya.
He also said the city’s energy infrastructure is outdated and urgently needs upgrading.
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“The system is old and not built to handle the current capacity, so such problems are a possibility,” said the MMC.
Residents fear that a lack of urgent response could lead to tragedy.
“It is unacceptable that we, paying citizens, have to beg for safe, stable electricity. People are living in fear in their own homes,” said Kern.Residents are demanding immediate intervention from the city.
“We cannot wait until someone dies for this issue to be taken seriously. Every day that passes is another gamble with people’s lives,” Kern warned.
