logo
Technicians held hostage in Midrand as City Power warns of rising attacks

Technicians held hostage in Midrand as City Power warns of rising attacks

The Citizena day ago
City Power has strongly condemned what it called 'the growing incidents of threats, intimidation and hostage situations' involving their technicians as they carry out critical repair and maintenance work across various areas.
According to Midrand Reporter, power entity spokesperson Isaac Mangena said in recent weeks the Midrand Service Delivery Centre (SDC) has experienced a worrying rise in such incidents.
He said most notably, community members from Kanana Extensions 4 and 5 yesterday stormed the Midrand SDC, blocked the gates for several hours and disrupted operations by preventing technicians from attending to an outage in the area.
'Last night [July 10], City Power technicians responded to an outage in the area and discovered the fault was linked to a problem on the overhead line, an issue that could only be safely addressed during the day. The task was then handed over to the day-shift team. However, while our teams were preparing to conduct the repairs and sourcing the necessary materials, community members blocked the gates and refused to let them leave the SDC,' said Mangena.
He added that this further delayed the process of repair work in that area as well as in others.
Mangena said on the same day a team of electricians dispatched to Rabie Ridge were held hostage and threatened by residents, only being released after intervention from their Security Risk team.
'Two weeks ago, services to Mayibuye had to be suspended for nearly a week after technicians were similarly threatened and held hostage while attempting to conduct legitimate maintenance work in the area, including work to normalise the area by installing prepaid meters. Another incident occurred about three weeks ago in Klipfontein, where City Power technicians and a contractor were held hostage at a substation during a power outage,' added Mangena.
He said due to these continued safety risks, City Power has decided to temporarily suspend services in Kanana Extensions 4 and 5, where technicians can no longer operate safely.
'We will continue to monitor the situation and will only resume work once it is safe to do so,' concluded Mangena.
Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.
Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

City Power-Eskom dispute ends, but deeper cracks in SA's electricity distribution sector have been exposed
City Power-Eskom dispute ends, but deeper cracks in SA's electricity distribution sector have been exposed

Daily Maverick

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Maverick

City Power-Eskom dispute ends, but deeper cracks in SA's electricity distribution sector have been exposed

Though the deal between City Power and Eskom may have kept the lights on in Johannesburg, the real work of modernising Eskom and municipal electricity metering and billing systems has only just begun. A high-stakes power play between Johannesburg's electricity distributor, City Power, and Eskom Distribution has reached a fragile settlement, ending a four-year, R4.9-billion dispute that has laid bare critical failings in South Africa's electricity distribution industry. At the centre of the dispute was City Power's claim that Eskom had significantly overbilled it for bulk electricity supplied between July 2020 and September 2024. The dispute, which escalated into a protracted financial and technical standoff, led to an independent investigation and report by the South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) ordered by Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. City Power accused Eskom of overbilling amounting to R4.47-billion for electricity supplied at multiple intake points. Further claims included R323-million in alleged overcharges where Eskom estimations were said to have failed to factor in the effects of loadshedding, and another R91-million as a result of incorrect estimations for electricity supplied at intake points that lacked operational metering infrastructure. Eskom rejected the allegations and insisted that 42 of the 49 intake points in Johannesburg were billed based on actual meter readings. Eskom further maintained that estimates were used only where vandalism or theft had compromised metering systems, and accused City Power of relying on incorrectly configured or missing check metering systems, and City Power's seriously flawed 'mock billing' practices. The Sanedi report, finalised in January 2025 and now in the public domain courtesy of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) following an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, has delivered a damning analysis, particularly in respect of City Power's main claim, but also in respect of Eskom's estimating practices. The findings The Sanedi report supported Eskom's assertions that City Power's own check metering and mock billing practices were marred by inconsistent meter configurations, incorrect meter placements and gaps in data management – thus undermining the credibility and validity of the major portion of City Power's claims. While Eskom's meters and associated billing were found to be generally accurate, Sanedi concluded that where estimations were unavoidable, Eskom relied upon its own internal estimating practices, rather than those of National Rationalised Specification (NRS) standards, which are jointly prepared and agreed to by both Eskom and municipal electricity distributors. Importantly, when applying NRS 047-compliant estimation methods, Sanedi found that City Power had, in fact, been underbilled by Eskom by about 412GWh across the six largest metered intake sites. This finding completely undermined and refuted a major portion of City Power's claim against Eskom. But the investigation also found that Eskom's internal processes of metering estimates fell short of the requirements of NRS standards and the distribution metering code, which require consultation by Eskom with the customer (City Power) during the estimation processes. The impact of load shedding was found to be another blind spot in Eskom's estimating model. The recommendations The Sanedi report has called for significant reforms. City Power was advised to upgrade its check metering infrastructure and ensure alignment with the distribution metering code. Eskom, in turn, was urged to revise its estimation protocols in line with electricity distribution industry standards, and to improve the transparency and timelines of its processes for notified maximum demand applications. Sanedi further required that adjustments be made by Eskom to account for average load reductions of 2.74% in 2022 and 10.85% in 2023 during the hours of load shedding, based on analysis across affected substations. These adjustments, the report argued, should be standardised and factored into estimating methodologies during future load shedding periods. Perhaps most significantly, Sanedi called on the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to update metering standards and estimating procedures to reflect the realities of load shedding, and to ensure transparency, consultation and firm timelines by electricity distributors when estimating metering data at large supply points, and in applications for increases in notified maximum demand. The settlement After the finalisation of the Sanedi report, the parties reached a financial settlement of the dispute. City Power agreed to keep its current account up to date and to settle its R3.2-billion bulk supply arrears with Eskom over the next four years. For its part, Eskom agreed to waive R830-million in claims for surpassing notified maximum demand, interest and penalties. Eskom has also indicated its willingness to assist City Power with extended payment terms for the months of June, July and August when high winter electricity prices are in effect. Sources also suggest that the settlement included rectification of metering infrastructure at key substations and a new protocol for data sharing and dispute resolution. Though the deal has been publicly framed as a success, the underlying issues remain far from resolved. Many municipalities have reached settlement agreements with Eskom Distribution, and several have promptly defaulted again within months. It remains to be seen whether City Power and City of Johannesburg are able to meet their settlement commitments while keeping their current account with Eskom up to date. The implications The implications of this saga stretch well beyond Johannesburg and City Power. Across South Africa, municipalities owe Eskom more than R100-billion – much of it clouded in similar disputes over metering integrity, billing transparency and infrastructure decay. This dispute has exposed a critical need for independent oversight of Eskom and municipal billing processes, and has prompted calls for a nationwide audit of distribution and metering systems. Perhaps the most important lesson is the urgent need for a functional, standardised and enforceable framework governing the relationship between Eskom and its municipal distributors. Without this, South Africa risks deepening the cycle of financial instability, technical dysfunction and public distrust that has long plagued its electricity distribution network. Conclusion While this metering and billing dispute is now resolved, the technical and institutional weaknesses remain. The settlement may have kept the lights in Johannesburg on – but the real work of modernising Eskom and municipal electricity metering and billing systems has only just begun. For now, the City Power – Eskom saga has ended with somewhat frosty handshakes and gritted teeth behind forced smiles. But unless systemic reforms are enacted, similar disputes may soon flare up in Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Mangaung, Nelson Mandela Bay and beyond – each one delivering another blow to an already fragile electricity distribution industry. DM Chris Yelland is managing director of EE Business Intelligence.

Why launch an inquiry instead of action? Presidency responds
Why launch an inquiry instead of action? Presidency responds

The South African

time3 hours ago

  • The South African

Why launch an inquiry instead of action? Presidency responds

President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to launch a judicial commission of inquiry rather than act immediately on explosive claims of criminal infiltration in the South African Police Service (SAPS) has sparked public debate. Many are asking: Why not take decisive action now? Speaking to ENCA , presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said, 'We are a country underpinned by the rule of law. I cannot make an allegation against you and expect you to be held accountable without due process.' Ramaphosa announced the inquiry on Sunday evening at the Union Buildings in Tshwane, tasking Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga with leading the process. The commission will investigate claims of deep criminal infiltration in SAPS, intelligence, and related justice institutions, including involvement by police officials, politicians, and alleged links to a Gauteng drug cartel. The inquiry follows damning public claims by KZN SAPS commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who said a drug syndicate had compromised key law enforcement figures. Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of attempting to halt investigations, saying the minister ordered the disbanding of the political killings task team and the withdrawal of over 100 dockets. Despite these serious accusations, the presidency insists that accountability must be driven by evidence, not outrage. 'These allegations are grave,' Magwenya said, 'and therefore require a competent mechanism to investigate and recommend decisive action.' Ramaphosa appointed law professor and former Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Firoz Cachalia, to be the acting police commissioner while Mchunu is away. 'The president wanted to bring someone from outside Parliament with the right experience,' Magwenya explained. 'Cachalia chairs the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council and is well-versed in both law and security matters.' The president expects interim findings from the commission within three to six months, with a final report going to Parliament and the Chief Justice. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Video: Police minister on leave amid allegations by KZN police commissioner
Video: Police minister on leave amid allegations by KZN police commissioner

The Citizen

time4 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Video: Police minister on leave amid allegations by KZN police commissioner

After citizens waited with bated breath longer than expected, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation earlier tonight regarding national security concerns raised by KZN's police commissioner. Some of the allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi include interference in investigations, disbanding the Political Killings Task Team, links to criminal syndicates, collusion with accused individuals, and misleading Parliament. Exactly a week on from these scathing remarks, and due to the president's Brics commitments, Ramaphosa announced that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been placed on a leave of absence with immediate effect. The president added that Mchunu has promised to give his full co-operation into an investigation launched by Ramaphosa. This contrasts with earlier media reports suggesting the president had three options regarding the minister: Reassigning him, awaiting his voluntary resignation, or applying the ANC's step-aside rule if he is officially under investigation. Furthermore, a judicial commission of inquiry has been established to investigate these allegations and several other matters, including compromised individuals and legislation. It will be chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. The commission will provide an interim report after three months and another after six months. Until August, an acting police minister will be appointed from within Cabinet. Thereafter, Prof Firoz Cachalia, a former Gauteng MEC and current adjunct professor at Wits University, will serve in the position until the next steps are taken. Police Minister spokesperson Kamogelo Mogotsi in a statement said Mchunu has welcomed the decision and expressed his full support for the process. 'I welcome and respect the president's decision and pledge my commitment to the process. Honour and integrity are the virtues I personally subscribe to and which we all need to make efforts to uphold. I stand ready to respond to the accusations against me and account to the citizens of the Republic, fully and honestly so.' Watch the full speech by the president: Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!

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