Power Outages in South Africa

Live status across metros. Last refreshed 07 May 2026, 08:40.

Power Outages by City

Live outage coverage is rolling out city by city. Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay have pages today. More metros coming over the next few months.

What Causes Power Outages in South Africa?

South African utilities report 50-200 unplanned power outages each day across the major metros. The mix of causes is consistent across cities:

Cable theft

Copper theft from underground and overhead lines is the single biggest cause of long outages. Repair needs specialised cable and crews, so 12-48 hours is typical.

Ageing cables

Many SA cities have 40+ year old underground cables that fail without warning, especially after heavy rain or cold snaps.

Transformer faults

Substation transformers trip under peak demand or after lightning strikes. Usually restored within 4-8 hours if a spare transformer is available.

Storm damage

Trees falling on overhead lines and lightning strikes to pole-mounted equipment. Heavy rain seasons (Nov-Mar) see spikes.

Vandalism

Substation break-ins and equipment damage. Common in areas with informal settlements around substations.

Load rotation

Scheduled 2-4 hour rolling outages on strained feeders (Ekurhuleni, parts of Johannesburg). Distinct from national load shedding.

How Long Does a Power Outage Last?

Restoration time depends on the fault type. If you are tracking your own outage, match it to one of these categories to get a rough estimate:

• Tripped breaker or minor fault: 2-4 hours. Fastest to restore - crews can usually re-energise from the substation remotely once the issue is cleared.
• Unplanned cable or equipment fault: 4-8 hours. Most common category. Technicians need to locate and isolate the fault before repair.
• Cable theft: 12-48 hours, sometimes 3-5 days for underground medium-voltage cable in hard-to-access locations.
• Substation or transformer failure: 6-24 hours. Spare equipment is swapped in if available.
• Planned maintenance: 6-10 hours, announced 1-3 days in advance via the municipality.
• Load rotation: 2-4 hour windows, announced same-day, rotating across feeders.

How to Report a Power Outage in South Africa

Every municipality has its own 24/7 fault reporting centre. Have your street address and meter number ready before you call.

What to Do During a Power Outage

• Switch off appliances at the wall to prevent damage from power surges when electricity returns.
• Leave one light switch on so you know when the power is back.
• Keep fridges and freezers closed - food stays cold for 4-6 hours if unopened.
• Use battery-powered lights instead of candles to reduce fire risk.
• Report the outage to your municipality (numbers above) if it has not been reported yet.
• For medical devices or oxygen concentrators, keep backup batteries charged and contact your utility's priority-customer list if you qualify.

Your Rights During a Power Outage

South African households are covered by the Electricity Regulation Act and NERSA's distribution licence conditions. For damage caused by an outage (electronics, food spoilage), claim from your household insurance first - most policies cover this. For chronic service failures, raise a written complaint with your municipality; if unresolved within 30 days, escalate to NERSA. Municipalities do not usually refund for time without power, but sustained or repeated failures may qualify for a rebate under the service-level agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions