Central SA
Deneysville residents to face dark Christmas after substation fire─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 11:35 Wed, 24 Dec 2025
Residents of Deneysville in the Free State are facing the prospect of a dark and difficult Christmas after being without electricity for several days following a substation fire.
According to resident Damian Joubert, the power outage began on Saturday (20/12) after a substation reportedly caught fire, plunging the village into darkness at the start of what should have been its busiest festive period. While much of South Africa is preparing for Christmas celebrations, Joubert said Deneysville has instead been thrown into crisis.
“Residents and business owners have been left to grapple with the fallout of what they describe as systemic incompetence and infrastructure neglect. The timing could not be worse.
“As the ‘Jewel of the Vaal’ entered its peak tourism week, the power grid collapsed, forcing the community into a desperate struggle for survival. The financial impact on the village is mounting by the hour.
“Small businesses, which rely on the December period to survive the winter months, are being pushed to the brink.”
Deneysville is a popular holiday destination, particularly during December, and the outage has raised serious concerns about lost income for guesthouses, restaurants, and small retailers who depend on festive-season tourism.
Metsimaholo Local Municipality has confirmed that it is aware of the incident. Municipal spokesperson Gino Albert said Eskom had acted swiftly after the fire was reported.
As the ‘Jewel of the Vaal’ entered its peak tourism week, the power grid collapsed. Photo: Facebook
He said Eskom confirmed that emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the site to contain the fire and ensure the safety of personnel and surrounding infrastructure. Albert added that there is currently no estimated time for the restoration of the electricity supply, as Eskom technical teams are still on site conducting detailed assessments to determine the full extent of the damage.
However, frustration among residents continues to grow. Joubert accused the municipality of shifting blame and failing to provide clear communication. He said residents last saw Eskom officials on site on Tuesday (23/12), raising concerns about the pace of repairs as Christmas approaches.
Despite the growing tension, the municipality has appealed to residents to remain patient and cooperative while Eskom works to restore the power supply.
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