Roads barricaded as Ekurhuleni residents protest electricity outages

Motorists were warned on 20 August 2026 after residents in Ekurhuleni barricaded roads during a protest over electricity problems, forcing drivers to use alternative routes.

What happened

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) said officers from the Springs Precinct together with the South African Police Service were monitoring a protest at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Welgedacht Road.

Protesters barricaded the road with burning tyres and stones. The EMPD said:

“It is reported that community members have barricaded the road with burning tyres and stones,”

Where motorists should avoid

The EMPD warned that Welgedacht Road is closed at the Bakerton entrance and urged drivers to exercise caution and use alternative routes where possible.

Traffic in the area has been affected and motorists were advised to plan for delays.

Why the protest erupted

The EMPD reported the protest was related to electricity issues after a mini-substation overloaded and caught fire. The department said:

“The protest is reportedly due to electricity issues, following a mini-substation that overloaded and caught fire.”

The EMPD added:

“Motorists are advised to exercise caution when approaching the area and to use alternative routes where possible.”

Response and monitoring

No major incidents were reported during the protest, the EMPD said.

“The situation is being closely monitored, and updates will be communicated,”

the department added.

City electricity investment

The City of Ekurhuleni previously announced a R1.8 billion investment to strengthen its electricity network. Allocations included R702 million for maintenance of substations and energy network infrastructure, R55 million to repair the Kwa-Thema transformer, R104.3 million for streetlight maintenance and R156.1 million to protect energy infrastructure through advanced technology and increased security measures.

The city said the proposed electricity tariff increase aligns with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s approved tariff guidelines.