The Democratic Alliance has today (Monday 19 January) delivered an open letter to Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero which calls for urgent intervention to stabilise electricity supply in the east Johannesburg suburbs affected by chronic failures at the Observatory, Bellevue, and Cleveland Substations.
Thousands of residents in Kensington, Bez Valley, Bellevue, Cyrildene, Dewetshof, and Bruma have been without power since Monday last week. They have had to throw out rotten food, and it has been especially challenging for parents sending their children for the opening of schools.
On Saturday night, the Albertina Sisulu Road was blocked by protestors who burnt tyres. DA Ward 66 Councillor Carlos da Rocha was threatened that his house would be burnt down, but JMPD only came to his assistance after the Council Speaker intervened.
The DA letter is signed by Clr da Rocha, Ward 118 Councillor Neuren Pietersen and Jack Bloom MPL, the DA’s Johannesburg East Constituency Head.
It reads as follows:
“We write to you with the utmost urgency and frustration on behalf of the residents and businesses of Wards 118 and 66, who continue to endure an intolerable and destabilizing pattern of electricity outages due to chronic failures at the Observatory, Bellevue, and Cleveland substations and their associated networks.
Despite repeated assurances and partial interventions, the lived reality on the ground remains one of persistent blackouts, economic disruption, and infrastructural decay. According to a written reply by Gauteng Cooperative Governance MEC Jacob Mamabolo, residents in east Johannesburg had suffered 144 power outages since January 2024—an average of two outages per week—primarily due to failures at the Observatory and Bellevue substations. However, it must be stressed that this figure, cited in a 2024 response to MPL Jack Bloom, is now outdated. The frequency and severity of outages have escalated significantly since then, with recent months marked by prolonged blackouts, repeated equipment failures, and compounding socio-economic impacts.
The causes are well-documented: aging and overloaded infrastructure, illegal connections, cable theft, and the compounding effects of loadshedding. While we acknowledge the partial upgrades—such as the replacement of one high-voltage cable and the reinstatement of a transformer at Bellevue—these measures have proven insufficient. The Cleveland substation, which serves critical industrial and residential zones, remains similarly vulnerable, with cascading failures affecting both supply and safety.
City Power’s own admissions confirm that Bellevue Substation requires a full upgrade, and that several cables that have failed more than three times must be replaced. Yet we are told that budget constraints preclude further action. This is unacceptable. The city cannot continue to cite fiscal limitations while residents suffer the consequences of neglect, mismanagement, and deferred maintenance.
We therefore demand the following:
1. Immediate publication of a funded, time-bound action plan to stabilize the Observatory, Bellevue, and Cleveland substations, including full cable replacement and transformer upgrades.
2. Transparent reporting on all past and current expenditure related to these substations, including emergency repairs and contractor performance.
3. Deployment of mobile substations or alternative supply mechanisms to mitigate outages during the upgrade period.
4. Enhanced security and community engagement to address illegal connections and protect infrastructure.
5. Monthly progress reports to affected councillors and ward committees until full stabilization is achieved.
The residents of Wards 118 and 66 are not asking for miracles—they are demanding the basic right to reliable electricity, which underpins safety, dignity, and economic participation. The City’s failure to act decisively will not only deepen public mistrust but may constitute a dereliction of constitutional and statutory duties.
We await your urgent response and a clear commitment to action.”
The DA will continue to push for the appointment of competent and honest officials to fix all essential services. Yes, it can be done!