Recurring power outages across Ward 86 have once again left residents in Delarey, Newlands, and Sophiatown frustrated, as City Power battles overloaded feeder cables, ageing infrastructure, illegal connections, and persistent cable theft.

According to City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena, the electricity network servicing many parts of Ward 86 was originally built decades ago for far smaller communities with significantly lower electricity demand. “Over time, many properties have been subdivided or extended, with homeowners leasing out additional backyard rooms and living spaces. This has significantly increased demand on a network that was never designed for such density.”

Mangena explained that the strain placed on feeder cables causes them to overheat and fail repeatedly, leading to recurring outages across the affected suburbs. In Newlands, several feeder cable faults were traced to circuits supplying Stonewall and Italian Road, while in Sophiatown technicians repaired faults affecting Good Road and surrounding streets. Mangena added that while repairs often temporarily restore electricity supply, additional faults frequently emerge on the same overloaded network.

Read more: Residents question transparency as City Power closes fault tickets without repairs

Ward 86 councillor Chantelle Fourie-Shawe highlighted that the issue of ageing infrastructure is extremely serious, and that this crisis has exposed much deeper systemic problems. “It is not just one cable or one substation failing. We are dealing with an ageing network, insufficient maintenance, inadequate stock levels, resource shortages, and growing pressure from vandalism and illegal connections. In many cases, infrastructure is operating well beyond its intended lifespan. Severe weather simply exposes problems that already exist beneath the surface.”

She explained that large parts of the network are ageing, overloaded, and poorly maintained after years of underinvestment. “When severe weather hits, whether it is heavy rain, wind, or storms, weak points in the system fail very quickly. We are seeing repeated cable faults, trips, damaged mini-substations, and prolonged restoration times. The reality is that the network is increasingly fragile.”

The utility revealed that large portions of Johannesburg’s electricity infrastructure are now between 60 and 100 years old, making them increasingly vulnerable to failures, fires, and equipment damage during restoration processes. Mangena said organised criminal networks targeting transformers, substations, and cables continue placing enormous pressure on service delivery. Residents have been urged to report suspicious activity involving electrical infrastructure through City Power’s anonymous tip-off lines.

Also read: City Power under pressure as stock levels tighten

Despite the challenges, Mangena said technical teams and test specialists remain deployed across affected areas to locate and repair faults, while load-balancing assessments are conducted to redistribute pressure away from overloaded feeders.

City Power maintains that stabilising Ward 86’s network will require both infrastructure upgrades and greater community co-operation around electricity usage.

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