The City of Tshwane has confirmed a scheduled power outage that will affect thousands of residents and businesses in Soshanguve and the Rosslyn Automotive Supplier Park. The interruption will last seven hours, running from 9:00 to 16:00 on 23 November, as technicians carry out essential work at the K3 Substation.
City officials announced that the shutdown is required to perform repairs on a damaged fibre cable that has compromised critical systems at the substation.
“The shutdown is scheduled for Sunday, 23 November and is anticipated to last seven hours from 9:00 until 16:00,” the city stated.
The power outage will affect the entire Soshanguve township and the surrounding industrial areas.
Power outage: Repairs target communication failures
According to the City of Tshwane, the damaged fibre cable has disrupted several key functions that ensure the safe and stable operation of high-voltage electricity lines. Furthermore, the fault has affected Protection inter-trips and SCADA communication links on the 132 kV lines connecting multiple primary substations.
“The work is necessary to allow the technical support and technology management section to carry out repairs on the damaged fibre cable,” the city confirmed.
Without immediate maintenance, the communication and safety failures could lead to larger system instability.
The power outage will enable teams to complete the work safely, as these communication systems play a crucial role in monitoring and protecting high-voltage infrastructure across the northern parts of Tshwane.
Residents urged to prioritise safety
The city has called on residents to exercise caution throughout the scheduled outage.
“Residents are urged to treat all electricity network points as always live,” Tshwane warned, reminding the public that power may be restored earlier than expected or that specific infrastructure may still carry voltage during repairs.
Local households and businesses are encouraged to plan ahead by switching off sensitive appliances, ensuring alternative lighting arrangements, and preparing for possible traffic delays in affected areas where traffic lights may be out.
While the power outage may cause inconvenience, the city believes the repairs will strengthen long-term reliability.
