Mayor Nasiphi Moya Confirms R110m Kentron Revival to End Centurion Blackouts

June 15, 2026 3 min read

The City of Tshwane has confirmed a R110 million investment to revive the Kentron substation, with officials promising the upgrade will finally end persistent blackouts plaguing Centurion. Mayor Nasiphi Moya announced the revival plan this week, marking the most significant infrastructure commitment to the region in years.

What the R110m investment means for Centurion

The Kentron substation has sat dormant for an extended period, leaving thousands of homes and businesses in Centurion exposed to unscheduled power cuts. The R110 million allocation will fund full restoration of the substation's capacity, allowing it to redistribute electricity load across the municipal grid. Local engineers estimate the revived substation can handle demand spikes that currently trigger rolling blackouts throughout the area.

Centurion, situated in Gauteng province, hosts a concentration of commercial property, retail centres, and light industrial operations. Reliable power supply ranks among the top concerns for business owners operating in the region. The substation revival directly addresses that vulnerability.

Why Kentron matters for regional stability

Without Kentron online, the local grid relies on neighbouring substations operating near capacity during peak hours. That imbalance creates cascading risks across the network. When one substation fails or overloads, multiple areas lose power simultaneously. Restoring Kentron removes that single point of failure.

The upgrade also positions Centurion for future growth. Developers and investors have cited inconsistent electricity supply as a barrier to expansion in the area. City officials hope the substation revival removes that obstacle and attracts new capital investment.

Impact on local businesses and investors

Business owners in Centurion have endured repeated disruptions, with some reporting losses linked to equipment damage and spoiled inventory during outages. A functioning Kentron substation eliminates that operational risk. Retailers, office parks, and manufacturers alike stand to benefit from uninterrupted supply.

For property investors, the announcement signals improved infrastructure reliability in a sought-after commercial zone. Estate agents in the area have already begun referencing the planned upgrade in marketing materials for industrial and commercial plots.

Mayor Moya's role in pushing the revival forward

Mayor Nasiphi Moya has prioritised electricity infrastructure since taking office, directing municipal resources toward resolving supply failures across Tshwane. The Kentron revival represents one of her administration's largest single infrastructure commitments. She framed the investment as essential for restoring public confidence in municipal services.

The mayor's office confirmed the funding allocation is separate from the city's standard maintenance budget, meaning the work will proceed without diverting resources from other grid improvement projects already underway.

Technical scope of the revival work

Engineering teams will undertake comprehensive repairs at the Kentron site, including transformer servicing, switchgear replacement, and protection system upgrades. Crews must also restore connections to the primary transmission network feeding the substation.

The work requires temporary isolations that may cause brief outages during the construction phase. City authorities have pledged to communicate scheduling details in advance to minimise disruption for affected customers.

Timeline and what comes next

Authorities expect the Kentron substation to reach full operational capacity within the coming months, though officials have not announced a precise completion date. The city has committed to providing quarterly progress updates through its official communications channels.

Residents and business owners should monitor municipal announcements for confirmation of the substation coming online. Once operational, the revival is expected to deliver immediate improvements in supply consistency across Centurion.