Major Joburg power cuts scheduled this week as City Power warns grid remains under pressure

Johannesburg residents in parts of Midrand and Roodepoort are being told to charge devices, prep backup plans and brace for scheduled blackouts this week as City Power Johannesburg rolls out a fresh round of maintenance work.

The utility says the interruptions are necessary to strengthen the network, but for many households and businesses, it means another week of planning life around power supply windows.

With South Africans already used to electricity uncertainty, even planned outages can feel like one disruption too many.

Midrand to take the biggest hit

The most significant outage this week is linked to maintenance at the New Road Substation in Midrand. Power is scheduled to be switched off on Thursday, 23 April 2026, from 9am to 5pm.

That eight-hour shutdown is expected to affect a wide stretch of Midrand, including residential zones, roads, schools and shopping centres.

Areas listed include:

• Segal
• Data Park
• Invicta Road
• Matuka Close
• Parts of 8th, 13th and 14th Road
• Harry Galaun Drive
• Parts of Lever Road
• Noordwyk Extensions 54 and 82
• Midrand Primary School
• Sandridge Shopping Centre
• Carlswald
• New Road
• Midrand High School
• Midridge Park
• Sandridge Village
• Van Heerden Drive

For parents, remote workers and small businesses, that likely means a full day of adjustments.

Randjespark businesses also affected

Two separate maintenance interruptions are also planned at the Randjespark Switching Station on the same day, both running from 9am to 5pm.

Areas expected to be impacted include:

• Suni Avenue
• Lechwe Street
• Randjespark Corporate Park
• Tsessebe Crescent

This could affect office parks and commercial operations in one of Midrand’s busiest business zones.

Roodepoort already dealing with outages

In western Johannesburg, residents in Roodepoort North, Georginia and Horizon were also scheduled for maintenance-related outages on Monday, 20 April, from 8am to 4pm.

That work is tied to the Argyll Street Switching Station and forms part of City Power’s network upkeep programme.

Why City Power says this is necessary

City Power says the electricity grid remains under serious pressure and routine maintenance is essential to avoid more damaging breakdowns later.

That is a familiar message in Johannesburg, where ageing infrastructure, theft, vandalism and growing demand have repeatedly strained the system. Planned shutdowns, while inconvenient, are often used to replace equipment before failures happen unexpectedly.

Still, many residents argue the city should communicate earlier and more clearly, especially where schools, traffic and businesses are affected.

Safety warning after outages

The utility also warned residents not to assume power will only return at the advertised time. Supply can be restored earlier than expected, meaning households should treat all electrical points as live throughout the outage period.

That warning is especially important for electricians, contractors and anyone handling appliances during maintenance hours.

Public mood: tired but practical

On social media, reactions to the notices ranged from frustration to humour. Some joked that Joburg residents now maintain “battery schedules” the way they once followed TV guides. Others shared reminders to freeze water bottles, charge routers and fuel generators.

It’s become part of city life: inconvenience mixed with resilience.

What residents should do now

If you’re in an affected area, consider:

• Charging phones, laptops and power banks
• Planning remote work alternatives
• Keeping fridges closed during outages
• Checking traffic routes if signals fail
• Watching for updated notices from City Power

For Johannesburgers, another week of maintenance means one more reminder that reliable electricity is still one of the city’s biggest unfinished promises.

{Source: The Citizen}

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