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Grid infrastructureSouth AfricaEIR-0514

Fire and explosion at Brakfontein Substation cuts power to Centurion suburbs

Apr 2025Published 7 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fireProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
Brakfontein Substation, Centurion, South Africa
Operator
City of Tshwane
What
Fire and explosion damaged substation and cut power
Cause
Not reported
Outcome
Phased restoration ongoing ten days later

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): City of Tshwane

What happened

On 3 April 2025 a fire broke out at the Brakfontein Substation in Centurion, part of the City of Tshwane's electricity network, causing extensive damage and, according to reporting, an explosion that knocked out power to multiple suburbs including Rooihuiskraal North, Amberfield, Heuweloord, Monavoni, Eldoraigne, Celtisdal and parts of Wierdapark. As of ten days after the fire, restoration was still in progress in phases, with some areas restored and others still outstanding.

Technicians had to condition a repaired or replacement transformer through a soaking process to ensure insulation and windings could safely take load, then perform sequential tests before energising the substation. Power was being restored in phases, starting with Amberfield 1 and 2, prioritising critical infrastructure and essential services, with residents warned to stay away from the site during repairs.

Contributing factors

Extensive fire damage to substation equipment, described by City officials as requiring careful transformer conditioning and sequential testing before safe re-energisation. No specific ignition cause was disclosed in the source.

Lessons learned

  1. Substation transformer damage requires a soaking process to condition insulation before safe load, so operators must allow extra time in restoration plans.
  2. After major substation failure, phased re-energisation prioritising critical infrastructure limits further network instability.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Specific cause of the fire
  • Transformer model and age
  • Total cost of damage and repairs
  • Exact time to full power restoration

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

IOL (iol.co.za)

Other entries that name Centurion

Published 2026-09-07. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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