South Africa News

VIDEO: No electricity at OR Tambo, as Eskom sub-station bursts into flames

OR Tambo – South Africa’s biggest airport – has been plunged into darkness on Sunday morning, after an Eskom sub-station caught fire in Kempton Park.

Ahead of a make-or-break week for Eskom, the power utility has been rocked onto the back-foot already. A major sub-station fire at Kempton Park has raised concerns, after power cuts were reported across the region and at OR Tambo International Airport. Operations at the facility have already been hit:

No power at OR Tambo International Airport – here’s why

The fire – spotted just after 10:00 on Sunday – has heavily-affected the City of Ekurhuleni’s 66kV and 132kV networks. As well as darkness engulfing Johannesburg’s airport, several other parts of the municipality are also without power. Areas affected by the sub-station fire include:

  • OR Tambo International Aiport
  • Isando & Spartan Industrial
  • Kempton Park CBD
  • Aston Manor
  • Bonaero Park.

Watch the Eskom sub-station fire here:

A video posted online shows plumes of black smoke filling the air above the Johannesburg hub. Crackling flames smother the key electricity point outside of OR Tambo, as the fire continued to rage before fire crews arrived on the scene. We are still waiting for confirmation on when the power will be restored.

Eskom: OR Tambo may not be the only place plunged into darkness this week…

Eskom have since confirmed emergency services are tackling the blaze, and that a transformer caught fire. They are yet to establish what sparked the blaze, but it’s the worst-possible news for the embattled firm.

The next seven days will be crucial, as increased electricity demand will crank-up the pressure on Eskom’s depleted energy output. Almost 14 000 MW remain off the grid on Sunday, and the threat of further load shedding looms. Losing power in one of the country’s most industrialised places is a logistical nightmare.

 

Source: Thesouthafrican.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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