28-05-2025
Broken electrical box on Louis Botha Avenue fixed after months of outages and frustration
Broken electrical box on Louis Botha Avenue fixed after months of outages and frustration
After five months of ongoing power disruptions, theft, and mounting frustration, the damaged electrical box on Louis Botha Avenue has finally been repaired.
The trouble began in December 2024, when a police chase resulted in damage to the box. Since then, the exposed unit has become a repeated target for theft, causing multiple power outages for nearby residents and businesses.
Read more: Broken electrical box on Louis Botha Avenue fixed after months of outages and frustration
Although not entirely without power, the community faced months of instability. Despite logging complaints through the City Power app, and appealing for a temporary cover, the box remained vulnerable… Until now.
Also read: City Power confirms 100% electricity reinstatement in Johannesburg Central Business District after explosion
'I'm very pleased that the issue is finally resolved,' said Ward 74 councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku. 'But it should not have taken months of pressure from residents, the media, and myself to reach this point.'
Resident Dr Lee Randall said the drawn-out response highlighted broader problems. 'A relatively simple issue revealed serious inefficiencies – poor communication, wasted resources, and a lack of accountability. This shouldn't be the norm.'
Kayser-Echeozonjoku is now calling for a full audit of transformers in the ward, as well as a stronger, co-ordinated approach to infrastructure protection. She hopes for a productive discussion on the issue at a community meeting on May 27 at Putan's Sports Club.
While the box is finally fixed, residents say the bigger problem lies in the system that allowed it to drag on for so long.
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Related article: City of Johannesburg shares how disconnection of water and electricity works
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