By AGISANANG SCUFF
28 December 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane said it is concerned that the current state of the City’s electrical grid has reached a breaking point. The DA said a dangerous combination of aging infrastructure, inadequate safety measures, and targeted criminal activity is leaving their communities in the dark and at risk.
DA Tshwane Spokesperson for Utilities, Themba Fosi said this festive season, two substations in the City of Tshwane have burned down, leaving communities in the dark. Fosi said first, it was the Olievenhoutbosch Substation in Centurion and yesterday, the Koedoespoort Substation in the Moot.
“In recent months, we have seen an alarming surge in substation fires across the metro. These are not merely technical glitches; they are catastrophic failures that result in prolonged blackouts, damaging local businesses and compromising the safety of residential neighborhoods.
“Each fire further weakens an already strained electricity grid, leading to a “domino effect” of infrastructure instability. Investigations into these incidents have over time revealed a systemic failure in preventative maintenance,” he said.
Fosi further said many of their substations lack modern fire suppression systems, functional smoke detection, or even basic physical firebreaks. He added that without these essential protections, a small electrical fault, which should be contained, rapidly escalates into a total infrastructure loss.
“Just a few days ago, Olievenhoutbosch Substation was engulfed by fire due to cable theft. Before being removed from government, the DA, under the leadership of Mayor Cilliers Brink, budgeted for the needed protection for substations to prevent fires.
“There was also a budget and plan to move the City’s protection of physical assets away from static security guarding to technological early detection mechanisms linked to armed response,” said Fosi.
He alleged that the ANC took the first opportunity to re-allocate these funds to water tankers and security companies linked to the Deputy Executive Mayor. Fosi said it is now the time that the ANC government prioritises the residents of Tshwane and stabilises the electricity grid above their patronage networks.
“The DA will be writing to the City Manager to demand immediately assess fire protection systems at all major substations and install automated suppression technology.
The municipality must implement 24 hour remote monitoring at high-risk sites to deter theft and vandalism.
“Establish a dedicated task force to track and prosecute those responsible for destroying City infrastructure. The residents of this City have reached the limit of their patience, and the DA will continue to stand with them until solutions are found,” he said.
The Guardian 