PRETORIA - Mamelodi residents are calling on the City of Tshwane to address recurring electricity outages following separate incidents affecting power supply in parts of Pretoria East.
The latest outage was caused by a veld fire that burnt too close to power lines, according to Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya. The incident has renewed concerns among residents over the reliability of electricity supply and the impact of repeated disruptions on their daily lives.
In a power alert issued on 29 September 2026, the city reported that a 132kV line had tripped at Njala Infeed Substation following an explosion at Waltloo Substation.
The two incidents have raised concerns among residents, who are demanding clarity from the municipality on the causes of the disruptions and what measures are being implemented to prevent further outages.
Residents have also expressed frustration over what they perceive as political interference in service delivery, particularly ahead of elections.
“Political leaders are playing politics with our livelihoods. I know this because, once the power goes off, different political leaders come to us and promise to restore the electricity. But we must not forget that they also ask us to vote for them,” said Mamelodi resident Kwena Mashamaite.
In a power alert update, Moya said the veld fire was responsible for the latest outage affecting parts of Pretoria East.
“Power has been restored to areas affected, with only parts of Waltloo Industrial and Nellmapius that remain off. Our Energy and Electricity team is attending to the areas that remain off. We apologise to residents and businesses for the inconvenience caused by electricity outages,” Moya said.
Residents are calling on the city to provide regular updates on the situation and clarify when electricity supply will be fully restored to the remaining affected areas.
They said the outages are disrupting household routines and businesses, with some residents reporting food spoilage because of prolonged power cuts.
Residents are also urging the municipality to improve communication with affected communities and explain what steps are being taken to ensure a more reliable electricity supply.