Tensions soared in Soshanguve Block BB this weekend as residents, frustrated by ongoing power outages, allegedly held municipal electricity workers hostage on Saturday. The situation unfolded amid suspicions that some workers might be intentionally damaging cables to create overtime opportunities, which increase their pay.
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya took to social media to express her concern, revealing that municipal officials narrowly escaped an angry mob after the situation in the area escalated. Moya assured residents that security measures were being taken to allow workers to restore power, and highlighted the city’s efforts to upgrade the neglected IA substation to provide reliable electricity.
Ward 94 Councillor Elisha Mlotshwa explained that the incident stemmed from long-standing frustrations. Residents had reportedly been without power for days, and many suspected that municipal electricians were intentionally causing faults in the system to generate overtime pay.
While Mlotshwa wasn’t present at the scene, she relayed the information from municipal officials who described being obstructed by the angry crowd. She further clarified that the main issue contributing to the outages was the frequent malfunctioning of faulty mini-substations in the area.
Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed the hostage situation, saying the workers were held from 2 pm until 3 pm and were suffering from psychological trauma but escaped unharmed. He acknowledged the ongoing power struggles in Soshanguve, including cable faults and issues at the IA, X, and W substations, which have caused prolonged outages.
The city had made significant progress restoring power to Block BB by March 1, 2025, but subsequent faults and load shedding led to further disruptions. Mashigo noted that while the situation has improved, the IA substation remains unstable due to outdated equipment.
Residents of Soshanguve continue to face power issues, with some areas experiencing outages outside of scheduled load shedding. Mashigo assured that investigations are ongoing and efforts are being made to restore power to the affected areas.
