A second explosion at the Mayfair substation in Johannesburg has intensified a widespread power outage, leaving thousands of residents in the dark. According to AllAfrica, the incident occurred around 6pm when City Power engineers attempted to restore electricity, affecting neighborhoods including Mayfair, Crown, Vrededorp, Brixton, Crosby, Pageview, Homestead Park, and Amalgam. The disruption has impacted households, small businesses, hospitals, and water services. City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena noted that firefighters had to secure the site before repairs could begin, delaying the process by nearly 12 hours. City Power is currently repairing damaged cables and evaluating the use of the Hursthill substation to supply power to some areas. Mangena indicated that teams were working to restore electricity to the South African Broadcasting Corporation by Wednesday afternoon and to other affected zones by Wednesday evening, though the exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, Chinese auto manufacturer Chery South Africa has initiated a large-scale vehicle recall to address potential safety faults. Club of Mozambique reported that the National Consumer Commission announced the recall covers almost 24,000 vehicles manufactured or sold in the past three years. The identified issues include rear-axle irregularities, welding defects, and brake problems. The NCC also launched a separate probe last month regarding allegations that Chery recalled vehicles without prior notification. Tony Liu, CEO of Chery South Africa, was seeking comment on the developments. This recall follows similar actions in China and Malaysia, where Chery proposed recalling 54,000 vehicles earlier this month and 9,000 units in October.
Chinese carmakers now account for more than a fifth of passenger vehicle sales in South Africa, a significant increase from less than 5% five years ago. Club of Mozambique noted that Chery ranked third in sales last month across its Jetour, Omoda, and Jaecoo brands. The combination of infrastructure challenges and automotive quality checks highlights the evolving economic landscape in the region. Residents in Brixton, Crosby, and Pageview remain without electricity as City Power continues its efforts to restore supply safely and efficiently for all affected areas.