Fire causes major outage affecting several parts of Johannesburg

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A fire has caused a major outage affecting several parts of Johannesburg.

Due to the fire, two lanes on the M1 South are closed after the Smit Street exit in Braamfontein.

JOHANNESBURG RESIDENTS PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS BY SUSPECTED CABLE THEFT INCIDENT

City Power said it is currently responding to a major outage following the tripping of the 88kV circuit along the Double Decker route in Braamfontein earlier today.

The outage has affected several areas, including Braamfontein, Parktown West, Newtown junction, De Korte North, Smith west and the surrounding areas.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said preliminary investigations indicate that the fire may have been caused by yet another incident of suspected cable theft and vandalism, a growing trend linked to the criminal activities of zama-zamas operating in the inner city underground tunnels.

Mangena said these groups, often violent and heavily armed, continue to pose a serious threat to critical power infrastructure and the safety of their personnel.

“The affected cables run between the Braamfontein and Fordsburg substations. Johannesburg Emergency Services are currently on site extinguishing the fire and will thereafter ventilate the tunnels to remove smoke and ensure the area is safe for entry.

“Only once the site is declared safe will City Power technicians be allowed to enter and begin assessing the extent of the damage. Thereafter, we will start work on restoring supply through back feeding where possible to minimise the impact on affected customers,” he said.

M1 SOUTH – LANE CLOSURES

Meanwhile, two lanes on the M1 South are closed after the Smit Street exit in Braamfontein due to a cable fire under the overpass.

City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) are on scene.

JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said two lanes remain open, which may cause traffic disruptions.

“Motorists are advised to exercise caution when travelling there. Currently, there is no estimated time for when the fire will be extinguished,” he said.