What is Risk Analysis in the Context of Critical Infrastructure Events
Critical-infrastructure risk analysis examines how maintenance or system failures in utilities such as electricity, water, or telecommunications affect business continuity and urban functionality. In Johannesburg, planned power interruptions are part of ongoing grid maintenance efforts by City Power. While routine, they frequently cause operational disruptions across the city’s economic core, especially in Sandton, Rosebank, and the CBD, where power dependence is high. This November 2nd event is one such scheduled outage predictable yet impactful requiring preventive preparedness for operational resilience.
Executive Summary
- Date of Event: 02 November 2025
- Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
- Risk Category: Critical Infrastructure
- Severity Score: 3 / 5
- Confidence Level: 90 %
City Power Johannesburg has announced a scheduled power supply interruption on Sunday, 02 November, as part of its grid maintenance program. The 8–10 hour outage is expected to affect select residential and business zones. While widespread emergencies are not anticipated, previous similar outages have caused traffic congestion, communications disruptions, and security vulnerabilities.
Businesses without backup systems will face significant productivity losses.
Known Hotspots and Sensitive Areas
- High Impact: Sandton CBD, Rosebank, Johannesburg CBD, and surrounding business districts.
- Medium Impact: Randburg, Midrand, and northern suburbs dependent on electrical pumping systems.
- Low Impact: Outlying areas with lower commercial density.
Hospitals (Charlotte Maxeke, Netcare Milpark), data centers, and banking clusters have contingency generators but may experience strain during prolonged outages.
Impact on Infrastructure and Services
- Power and Water: Outage may temporarily affect water supply in areas dependent on electric pumps.
- Traffic: Non-functional traffic lights expected to cause heavy congestion along M1 intersections and routes to Sandton.
- Telecom & IT: Network towers and data servers may experience intermittent downtime after battery reserves deplete.
- Security: Burglar alarms and CCTV networks could fail, heightening theft and trespass risk.
Recommended Actions
- Operational Preparedness: Fully charge UPS units, test generators, and perform orderly IT shutdowns before the outage.
- Business Continuity: Activate remote-work policies where feasible and ensure data backups.
- Security Reinforcement: Strengthen on-site physical security; deploy manual patrols during dark hours.
- Client Communication: Notify clients of service adjustments and alternative contact options 24 hours in advance.
- Post-Outage Verification: Inspect electrical systems after restoration to identify surge-related faults or asset damage.
Multidimensional Impact
The scheduled outage coincides with weekend commercial and travel activity, amplifying localized impacts. Traffic bottlenecks and delivery delays are anticipated, particularly along Republic Road, Empire Road, and the Soweto–CBD corridor.
Although O.R. Tambo International Airport remains unaffected (independent grid), access roads may experience slower travel times. Air pollution levels may temporarily rise from increased generator usage, but large-scale unrest or cascading grid failures are low probability scenarios.
Emergency Contacts
- Police: 10111
- Fire / Ambulance: 10177
- National Emergency: 112
- City Power Johannesburg: 0860 562 874
- Joburg Water: 0860 562 874
- City of Johannesburg
- City Power JHB (Outages)
Final Thoughts
The planned Johannesburg power interruption on 02 November underscores the city’s dependency on stable energy infrastructure. Though not an emergency, its ripple effects traffic congestion, data disruption, and security risk demand proactive mitigation. Organizations should ensure generator readiness, real-time communications, and clear post-restoration protocols to maintain continuity. Predictable disruptions, when planned for, offer an opportunity to stress-test resilience systems and strengthen operational discipline. Stay ahead of operational risks with real-time alerts, scenario modeling, and expert advisories with datasurfr’s Predict. Start your 14-day free trial of Datasurfr’s Risk Intelligence Platform today.