  This paper discusses the impact of electricity blackouts and poor
infrastructure on the livelihood of residents and the local economy of
Johannesburg, South Africa. The importance of a stable electricity grid plays a
vital role in the effective functioning of urban infrastructure and the
economy. The importance of electricity in the present-day South Africa has not
been emphasized enough to be prioritized at all levels of government,
especially at the local level, as it is where all socio-economic activities
take place. The new South Africa needs to redefine the importance of
electricity by ensuring that it is accessible, affordable, and produced
sustainably, and most of all, by ensuring that the energy transition
initiatives to green energy take place in a planned manner without causing harm
to the economy, which might deepen the plight of South Africans. Currently, the
City of Johannesburg is a growing spatial entity in both demographic and
urbanization terms, and growing urban spaces require a stable supply of
electricity for the proper functioning of urban systems and the growth of the
local economy. The growth of the city brings about a massive demand for
electricity that outstrips the current supply of electricity available on the
local grid. The imbalance in the current supply and growing demand for
electricity result in energy blackouts in the city, which have ripple effects
on the economy and livelihoods of the people of Johannesburg. This paper
examines the impact of electricity blackouts and poor infrastructure on the
livelihood of residents and the local economy of Johannesburg, South Africa.
