Queenswood residents dealt a dark blow
The road to stable and reliable electricity will not be short or simple. While progress is being made, especially in fault resolution and planned upgrades, residents remain rightfully concerned. A sustained commitment from both the metro and the community is essential.
A Pretoria suburb faced the brunt of frequent and prolonged power outages for the first three weeks in June, which have left many disillusioned and frustrated.
With spoiled food, increased safety risks, and a growing sense of abandonment by the metro, residents in Queenswood are demanding answers and action.
They feel that even though the root causes of the persistent power outages are multifaceted, there should be sustainable solutions.
According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the primary issues are related to compromised protection during load-shedding cycles and cable faults.
He explained that these faults are often exacerbated by surges when power is restored, which can cause older or stressed cables to fail.
In some areas, multiple faults have been found in the same distribution ring, further complicating restoration efforts and prolonging blackout periods.
Mashigo said the vandalism and theft at the Blesbok Substation in 2024 dealt a significant blow to the already strained infrastructure.
As explained by city officials, such criminal activities cause unplanned and wide-reaching service interruptions.
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In Queenswood, where the Blesbok Substation plays a central role in electricity distribution, the damage directly affected supply reliability and stability.
It also diverted critical resources that could have been used for maintenance and upgrades.
To prevent future outages, Mashigo confirmed that the refurbishment of the substation is planned for the 2025/26 financial year.
According to him, the latest progress reports on June 18 from Prince’s Park Depot, 29 cable faults were identified in Queenswood and its surrounding areas.
Of these, 28 have been resolved, with the remaining one still under repair on June 18.
The metro has emphasised that fault location and repair can be time-consuming, especially in densely interconnected systems with underground cabling.
This refurbishment is expected to increase the station’s capacity, replace outdated components, and introduce smarter protective systems to better manage load fluctuations and faults.
However, officials caution that true system resilience will also depend on community co-operation and broader infrastructure investments beyond the substation itself.
Illegal electricity connections and tampering with meters have been cited as serious problems contributing to grid instability.
These activities not only overload the system but also increase the risk of electrical faults and equipment failures.
According to Mashigo, the metro responds to such cases as they are detected, although the volume of incidents makes proactive enforcement difficult.
Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity to municipal authorities for investigation.
One of the most common complaints from residents has been the lack of communication during outages.
In response, the metro now uses a variety of platforms to issue alerts.
“These include WhatsApp regional channels, social media updates, SMS notifications, and press statements to local media,” said Mashigo.
“Engagements with communities take place through quarterly imbizos, though the attendance is low. Improved attendance will bridge the information gap.”
While these tools mark a step in the right direction, feedback from residents indicates there is still a need for more frequent, timely, and accurate updates, especially regarding restoration timelines.
Residents can report power outages via the municipal call centre at 012 358 9999 or by SMS using the keyword “power” followed by their account number to 082 612 0333 or 44676.
The metro has committed to increasing the number of response teams and support staff to improve turnaround times for fault repairs and service restoration.
To curb the alarming rise in theft and vandalism of electrical infrastructure, the metro has also implemented security patrols in collaboration with the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) and Community Upliftment Programmes.
While these have had some success, long-term solutions will likely require fencing, surveillance, and neighbourhood watch participation to be fully effective.
Recent initiatives by councillors, such as encouraging residents to switch off geysers during outages, show the positive impact of community co-operation.
A single geyser can draw 3–4kW of power; if 100 households turn theirs off, it could reduce the load by up to 400kW.
This is enough to restore or sustain power in other parts of the grid.
DA councillor Anru Meyer appealed during the crisis to residents, requesting them not to worsen the problem by leaving high-draw appliances like geysers on during outages, contributing to the overload when supply returns.
Beyond the upcoming substation upgrades, the metro plans to conduct a full infrastructure assessment after the refurbishment is complete.
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