logo
Residents in Alexandra stop City Power's disconnection teams

Residents in Alexandra stop City Power's disconnection teams

The Herald30-05-2025
Angry residents of River Park, Alexandra, were quick to react and immediately stopped an operation by City Power to cut illegal electricity connections in the area on Thursday.
Commotion erupted as the community came together and stopped the officials from disconnection, demanding they turn the electricity back on and leave.
Dillo Moche, 49, is frustrated that City Power randomly cuts off power after having agreed on a date with the community. Moche wanted the operation to start elsewhere, where people steal and do not pay for electricity, including informal settlements which have developed around River Park.
'Out of this entire ward, they chose to cut off the power in River Park only. Alexandra doesn't pay for electricity and there are informal settlements which surround River Park that do not pay at all but rather steal electricity, using cables.'
Moche said the community did not mind paying but the problem of disconnection continued.
'We are willing to pay but they will still disconnect the electricity. We had agreed that City Power will come on 9 June and check for those who have bridged electricity so that they can fix the problem and be able to pay the R500 rate, but here they are now to disconnect without notifying us.'
Tlaleng Mmoa, 48, who has been living in River Park ever since it was established, admits that there are some illegal connections and that other houses have bypassed meters.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

City Power announces interim solution for Mahauzana's electricity woes
City Power announces interim solution for Mahauzana's electricity woes

The Citizen

time2 hours ago

  • The Citizen

City Power announces interim solution for Mahauzana's electricity woes

Residents of Mahauzana Flats in River Park who are grappling with persistent electricity challenges may soon benefit from an interim solution announced by City Power. The utility's General Manager of Public Relations and Communication, Isaac Mangena, clarified that Mahauzana is not a formally registered customer, and the flats, which are part of an unfinished Gauteng Provincial Government project, have been illegally occupied, leading residents to rely on unauthorised connections. Mangena emphasised that City Power is not obligated to supply electricity until the Department formally proclaims the settlement and agrees to cover billing. However, acknowledging the ongoing impasse, the utility has come up with a temporary plan to stabilise the area's electricity supply and reduce strain on the broader River Park community. Also read: City Power leaves Riverpark residents in the dark 'This solution involves the temporary installation of a bulk electricity supply to Mahauzana Flats through a dedicated mini substation and between four to six pillar boxes per block of flats,' he noted. 'Each pillar box will contain a protection system and three-phase prepaid meters for each block. This setup will allow for sub-metering, enabling residents to manage their electricity usage. It is crucial to note that internal house wiring and the installation of compliant distribution boards will remain the responsibility of the residents.' Mangena warned that any illegal connections or non-vending could prompt City Power to disconnect power to the flats or the entire area. 'City Power believes that this is the most viable short-term solution to stabilise the network, curb electricity theft and non-payment, and reduce the power outages that continue to inconvenience other residents of River Park,' Mangena shared. The interim solution aims to address chronic power disruptions while formalisation discussions with the Gauteng Provincial Government continue. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!

City Power refutes claims its headquarters raided by Hawks
City Power refutes claims its headquarters raided by Hawks

The Citizen

time5 hours ago

  • The Citizen

City Power refutes claims its headquarters raided by Hawks

Reports emerged the Hawks are probing City Power for alleged corruption and financial mismanagement totalling more than R500 million. City Power has refuted claims that its headquarters were raided by the Hawks. This comes after reports emerged on Friday that the crime-fighting unit raided City Power's Johannesburg headquarters as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and financial mismanagement involving irregular payments and inflated contracts totalling more than R500 million. Alleged corruption According to the reports, City Power's executive management is also being investigated for allegedly allowing more than R335 million to be looted from its maintenance budget in six months – from May 2023 to October of that year – on frivolous purchases that included air fresheners, pens, trolley mops and copper cables that officers claim were not delivered. ALSO READ: City Power employees among seven arrested for copper theft Hawks raid City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena confirmed that the Directorate of Investigating Priority Crimes also known as the Hawks visited its premises to deliver a formal request for information about the business. 'There was no raid, no confiscation of documents, files, or IT equipment. And there was no interrogation. 'We can, however, confirm that members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) did visit City Power and delivered a formal request for information (RFI) to the business,' Mangena said. Mangena said City Power will cooperate fully with this 'lawful request' by the Hawks. Internal control processes Last year, the Auditor-General's report into City Power's affairs flagged its internal control processes. The report recommended an investigation, which was concluded in March 2025. City Power's investigation revealed collusion between employees and service providers, serious breaches in procurement and payment processes, fraudulent job numbers, and duplicate approvals. This led to City Power suffering significant financial losses. ALSO READ: City Power achieves unqualified audit, hits 75% of targets Dismissals The power utility has since dismissed guilty employees and laid criminal complaints. 'Out of all cases that have already been finalised and those that are still ongoing, we discovered that 12 electricians, eight security officers, five team leaders, and several senior managers had been implicated in serious criminal conduct such as cable theft, fraud and soliciting bribe,' City Power said. 'While we are aggressively fighting the scourge of theft and vandalism, we discovered that several employees, including team leaders, electricians and even our own contracted security officers, were involved in stealing and destroying essential infrastructure. 'We have also uncovered that the challenge we have been battling with surrounding the shortages of materials was not only related to heightened demand for replacement equipment, but that our own employees were simply handing these tools to contractors from the stores and supposedly benefiting from those transactions,' the utility said. ALSO READ: City Power and Joburg have not paid debt to Eskom, Ramokgopa says [VIDEO]

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store