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Grid infrastructureSouth AfricaEIR-1296

Substation fire reported to have cut power in the Krugersdorp area

June 2018Published 25 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fireProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersLow confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
Where
Substation in the Kagiso area, South Africa
Operator
Eskom
What
Fire caused loss of busbar and power outage
Cause
Under investigation
Outcome
Power returned in some areas that afternoon

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

What happened

On 12 June 2018, Mogale City Local Municipality said a sudden power outage was caused by a fire at a substation in the Kagiso area, described in the same report as rural Krugersdorp. The municipality said Eskom had lost a busbar, affecting supply to Mogale City, Randfontein and parts of the City of Johannesburg. The cause was under investigation. Some areas were later reported to have had power restored. How badly the substation was damaged, and how long the wider outage lasted, were not reported.

Contributing factors

Not reported. The municipality said the matter was still being investigated.

Lessons learned

  1. A fire at one substation can remove a busbar and interrupt supply across more than one municipality.
  2. Early notices should say what is known, including that the cause is still under investigation, and should be updated as restoration proceeds.
  3. Public accounts should separate a reported fire from any claim that the asset was destroyed until that is confirmed.

More lessons on outages, backup supply and restoration, investigation and fleet-wide checks, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Cause of the fire
  • Name of the substation
  • Full extent of the outage

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

Source

randfonteinherald.co.za

Published 2026-09-25. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Grid infrastructure incidents in South Africa, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Grid infrastructure incidents in South Africa: 157 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

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