City Power suspends services in parts of Alexandra after technicians held hostage
JOHANNESBURG - City Power has suspended services in parts of Alexandra after technicians were held hostage during a meter installation operation.
The entity says some residents in Vezinyawo allegedly hijacked three of its vehicles on Monday.
READ: Joburg's City Power removes illegal connections worth an estimated R500k in Alex
The cars had to be towed after keys were stolen by one of the people there...
City Power says it will not resume any work until the safety of staff is guaranteed in the area.
'If there are any changes in the attitudes of the residents that are staying in the area should there be any, then we can be able to move in and ensure that we install the metres, we normalise the area and power can be restored provided the customers start buying electricity,' said spokesperson Isaac Mangena
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The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
Alex residents ‘tried to hold city power officials hostage'
City Power said payments should only be made through authorised electricity vendors, not to individuals, and should go toward purchasing electricity units. River Park community members forcefully ask City Power employee to reconnect them after he disconnected them during the cut-off operation in Alexandra in Johannesburg, 29 May 2025. Picture: Nigel Sibanda / The Citizen Electricity supply has been restored to the River Park community in Alexandra following a five-day disconnection that began after residents allegedly attempted to hold City Power officials hostage during a routine meter inspection operation. The utility company announced on Tuesday that power would be switched back on, but residents must now pay R2 000 per household toward electricity purchases as part of the reconnection process — a significantly reduced amount compared to standard reconnection fees. Attack on city power officials leads to area-wide disconnection The crisis began on Thursday, 29 May 2025, when City Power teams conducting scheduled meter audits and disconnection operations in the River Park area encountered violent resistance from residents. 'The safety of our staff was severely compromised, with incidents of intimidation, road blockades, and attempts to hold our personnel hostage, forcing City Power to act decisively by cutting off supply to prevent further risk,' said City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava. The utility responded by disconnecting electricity to the entire area as a safety measure, leaving the community without power for five days while negotiations took place with community leaders and the local ward councillor. ALSO READ: WATCH: What happened when City Power cut illegal connections in Alex City Power gives Alexandra residents conditional power restoration Following meetings with community representatives, City Power agreed to restore the electricity supply effective Tuesday, 3 June 2025. However, the restoration comes with strict conditions and ongoing enforcement measures. 'While we condemn the unlawful behaviour witnessed during the operation, we acknowledge the importance of constructive dialogue and have resolved to give law-abiding residents a fair opportunity to engage,' Mashava stated. The utility will immediately resume meter auditing operations once power is restored, with teams conducting comprehensive inspections to identify households that have tampered with or illegally bypassed their electricity meters. These operations will proceed under law enforcement protection to ensure worker safety. ALSO READ: City Power crackdown on illegal connections met with resistance in Alexandra Reduced service fees offered In what appears to be a compromise measure, City Power is requiring previously disconnected customers to pay only R2 000 per household toward electricity purchases rather than full reconnection fees. Isaac Mangena, the utility's General Manager, emphasised that this amount represents a significant concession. According to Mangena, the R2,000 charge 'is not a penalty or reconnection fee, but rather a minimum charge to begin recovering outstanding service costs'. He noted that standard reconnection costs far exceed this amount, with single-phase meters typically costing more than R14 000 per household to reconnect and three-phase meters used by businesses and backroom rental accommodations costing more than R30 000. The utility stressed that payments should only be made through authorised electricity vendors, not to individuals, and should go toward purchasing electricity units. ALSO READ: City Power allays fear that hackers may cut your power Free electricity program available For residents unable to afford electricity payments, City Power is promoting its Expanded Social Package (ESP), which provides free basic electricity to qualifying households. According to the utility, the programme currently serves more than 10 000 customers and aims to assist vulnerable residents through free electricity provision and waiver of the R200 surcharge. Eligibility for the ESP extends to senior citizens, unemployed persons, women and children, child-headed households, and persons with disabilities who earn less than R7,503.01 monthly. However, applicants must have fully functioning meters to qualify for the program. Those seeking to apply for free electricity must bring their South African Identity Document, City of Johannesburg rates and taxes account, three months of bank statements, proof of residence, and their City Power account or meter number to municipal offices. Zero tolerance warning City Power maintains a firm stance against electricity theft and meter tampering, with Mangena warning that the utility will continue working with law enforcement and local leadership to ensure compliance. The company has issued a clear ultimatum regarding future interference with operations. 'Should our teams encounter violence again this week, we will resolve to switching the lights off again and suspend our services in the area,' the utility warned through Mangena's statement. The company emphasised that paying for electricity services remains the only way to ensure a continued and reliable supply, urging residents to allow utility teams to perform their duties without interference. READ NEXT: How Joburg plans to spend R89 billion
The Herald
30-05-2025
- The Herald
Residents in Alexandra stop City Power's disconnection teams
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.
The Citizen
29-05-2025
- The Citizen
WATCH: What happened when City Power cut illegal connections in Alex
City Power was forced to abandon a cut-off operation in Alex Community members shaking off City Power official from ladder as he disconnects the power. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/ The Citizen Tensions boiled on the streets of Riverpark in Alexandra after community members threatened City Power officials who had come to disconnect the power. City Power had planned a cut-off to 'crack down on illegal electricity connections in Riverpark, Alexandra. The area had been identified as a high-risk area plagued by widespread illegal connections and growing resistance from customers who openly refuse to pay for electricity. 'Most of the residents in that area have bypassed meters or connected directly to the network, leading to infrastructure overload, frequent outages, and heightened risk of fire hazards', the utility said. However, when officials came to remove the illegal connections, residents pounced. The Citizen was on the scene when residents shook a ladder holding a City Power employee, warning that if they cut the power they would not leave the ladder. Others blew whistles and shouted threats until the officials backed down and headed out of the area. WATCH: Alexandra residents threaten a #CityPower official during a crack down operation on illegal electricity connections in the area.#TheCitizenNews 📹: Molemo Tladi — The Citizen News (@TheCitizen_News) May 29, 2025 Disgruntled community members A community leader, Ashford Sedzumo, told The Citizen that earlier this week City Power had cut off their electricity. Residents who were affected were told to pay R2 000 but allegedly had their power cut off again. They believed they had a 'positive' agreement with the utility after the community shut down City Power's offices on Wednesday, preventing vehicles from leaving the premises and officials from assisting with outages. 'We are very angry with these people, I don't know what they are taking us for. Just yesterday, we had a march to their offices and stayed there for two and a half hours. Our leaders came back with positive results', said Alex resident Tsietsi Khungoane. 'These people [City Power officials] said they will work closely with us, and they will come back to tell us when the right time is to cut off illegal connections. 'All of a sudden, we are surprised they are here today. They told no one, they just came here with cars escorted by Metro Police and SAPS.' Another resident, Tlaleng Mmoa, claimed City Power had 'manipulated the situation' and reneged on an agreement. 'There was an agreement that said City Power will come on the 9th of June. When they come on that date, everyone who is illegally connected should have bought electricity worth R 500, and they won't cut off their power. Instead, they will put normal boxes for them so they can carry on buying electricity,' she said. No option but to disconnect City Power was firm in its decision to cut the power. 'Despite ongoing engagement with community leaders, non-compliance and electricity theft remain persistent, leaving us with no option but to disconnect power supply to safeguard the network and protect lives,' it said. NOW READ: City Power crackdown on illegal connections met with resistance in Alexandra
