Power outage hits multiple Rand West areas after substation attack
Early-morning cable theft at a key substation has knocked out power and water to large parts of town, leaving residents and critical services in limbo.
Residents in parts of Randfontein have been left without electricity after criminals targeted infrastructure at an Eskom facility in the early hours of Wednesday morning, April 15.
According to Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) spokesperson Phillip Montshiwa, unknown persons gained access to the Eskom yard at the Industries Substation, where they allegedly stole and damaged critical electricity cables.
The incident has caused a power outage affecting several areas linked to the substation, disrupting homes, businesses, and essential services.
The following areas have been affected:
• Randfontein CBD
• West Porges
• Portions of Greenhills
• Portions of Homelake
• Robinpark
• Bongweni
• Robinson Hospital
• Lenmed Hospital
• Randfontein Elderly Care Centre
• Greenhills Water Tower
Related article: Cable thieves strike again, Mohlakeng left without electricity
The outage reportedly began overnight, with many residents only realising the extent of the problem in the early hours of the morning when the electricity supply failed across affected neighbourhoods. The Randfontein Herald has previously reported on similar incidents in the region, including a recent case in Mohlakeng last week, highlighting the ongoing challenge of cable theft in the Randfontein community.
Current status
Montshiwa confirmed that Eskom has been notified and that technical teams are attending to the matter. The duration of the outage remains unknown at this stage.
Damage to infrastructure during such incidents often delays restoration efforts, as technicians must not only replace stolen cables but also repair vandalised equipment before electricity can be safely restored.
Important notice
Residents are advised that the water supply to the affected areas will also be impacted until electricity is fully restored.
Authorities are urging members of the public to report any suspicious activity around substations and electrical infrastructure, as efforts continue to combat the ongoing problem of cable theft in the region. Animal Hospital
