Parts of Benoni are without electricity due to the fires.
“A fault on the network led to four panels and a transformer, at the Rynfield 132kV substation, to be set alight and start burning,” said Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) spokesperson Themba Gadebe.
The fire started at around 5am.
Gadebe said four mini substations in Crystal Park and Rynfield also caught fire as a result of the fire at the main substation along Pretoria Road.
“The Eskom Benburg substation, which supplies northern parts of Benoni, parts of Kempton Park and Daveyton, also tripped,” said Gadebe.
“Power to areas supplied by this substation will, however, be restored.”
Gadebe said only one of the transformers burnt at the main substation, as a result of quick response by firefighters.
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“They are currently clearing the smoke and cooling the damaged equipment before technicians can do a proper assessment of the damage and investigate the cause,” Gadebe added.
A new transformer has been located that will replace the damaged one.
Gadebe could not say when electricity would be restored to affected areas.
