Centurion power supply fully restored after gruelling repairs, says metro
The metro had to order parts from overseas to modify the cable end box, as the original components were manufactured in 1972.
Power supply has been restored to all parts of Centurion previously affected by the explosion at the Zwartkop Substation on May 20, according to Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo.
The incident involved the explosion of Transformer 1A at the substation, which resulted in widespread outages across multiple areas, with some residents enduring more than a week without electricity.
Mashigo said the restoration comes after a gruelling eight-day repair process.
Zwartkop Substation fully operational. pic.twitter.com/Fz2urSedTi
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) May 28, 2025
“The city’s energy and electricity technicians worked around the clock through a strenuous cable installation and connection process,” he said.
He stated that once that process was complete, the team had to undertake the complex task of modifying the Cable End Box, which serves as the connection point between the cables and the main transformer.
“This task was complicated by the fact that the end box’s original components were manufactured in 1972.
“Some of the parts had to be imported from other countries to complete the modification,” said Mashigo.
He encouraged any residents who may still be without power to report the issue through the city’s normal complaint logging channels.
Mashigo expressed appreciation for the patience, co-operation and understanding shown by affected residents during the extended outage and apologised for the inconvenience caused.
Before the full restoration, the metro had already managed to restore electricity to some areas.
On May 21, MMC for Utility Services Frans Boshielo explained that the explosion had also tripped the Lyttelton Line 1 at Njala, affecting electricity supply to parts of the network served by the Wingate, Aries, and De Hoewes substations.
At the time, he stated that technicians were able to stabilise those lines and successfully restore supply to the affected zones.
However, other areas, including Zwartkop, Valhalla, Clubview, parts of Claudius, the military base in Thaba Tshwane, and the Zwartkop Airbase, remained without electricity.
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