Latest news with #IsaacMangena
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
River Park without electricity after clash with City Power technicians
City Power cut off the electricity supply to River Park in Alexandra, plunging the entire community into darkness. This comes after community members resisted City Power's scheduled meter audit and disconnection operation in the area on May 28. Read more: River Park residents resist City Powers cut-off operation The utility's spokesperson Isaac Mangena said that their cut-off operation, which was held in collaboration with the police, JMPD and contracted security personnel, targeted 470 households with zero recorded electricity purchases, and 367 customers with low vending patterns, 'indicative of meter tampering.' However, their scheduled operation was met with resistance when angry residents staged a protest, threatening and nearly holding their team hostage. Mangena noted that as tensions escalated, they had to swiftly withdraw the operation and resorted to disconnecting the whole area. 'We have repeatedly cautioned River Park residents that continued defiance, interference, and resistance to lawful operations would result in a total supply disconnection,' he said. 'However, those warnings have been met with contempt. Today's actions have forced us to act decisively.' Mangena said it was not the first time River Park residents had acted 'unlawfully and aggressively.' He added it occurred on May 28, when residents staged a protest at the Alexandra Service Delivery Centre after the utility disconnected nine properties found to have connected illegally to the grid. He said that earlier this year, individuals masquerading as community representatives had violently disrupted their smart meter rollout operation. Also read: City Power plans to give 5 Alexandra informal settlements formal access to electricity In their defence, residents argued that they were resisting the utility's operation because City Power did not tell them about its plan to disconnect their electricity. They also stressed that City Power was in breach of the agreement they had on May 28, that the utility would not cut off their electricity at least until June 9, when City Power technicians come to normalise the meters in the area. City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava said that the utility had a contractual relationship with verified individual account holders, not a group of people who they couldn't ascertain if they were customers or not. 'We urge those registered customers who have been affected by the power supply cut-off to visit our SDC on an individual basis so that we can resolve their queries separately. All others will remain disconnected until they allow us to audit and normalise meters in the area,' she noted. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: City Power timelines for addressing power issues At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
City Power allays fear that hackers may cut your power
City Power last suffered a major security breach in 2019 and spent roughly R15 million to prevent cyberattacks. The expansion of City Power's digital capabilities came with inherent cybersecurity risks. No digital security breaches have been reported since a ransomware attack disrupted the entity's IT systems in 2019; however, it has been complacent. City Power's battle with infrastructure thieves has predominantly been physical, but it has ensured that its online systems are safe and secure. Hybrid cybersecurity model The 2019 attack crippled prepaid electricity customers and stifled the entity's ability to respond to outages. City Power stated that the attack forced it to implement a multi-layered approach, which featured a dedicated internal team and a specialised external firm for real-time monitoring and threat intelligence. 'This hybrid model ensures a dynamic, proactive defence posture capable of responding to an increasingly complex cyber threat landscape,' City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena told The Citizen. Eskom suffered a security breach of its internal token vending platform in 2022 that led to the generation of unauthorised tokens. Eskom was approached by The Citizen on 21 May, requesting an update on information about its cybersecurity efforts; however, no response had been received at the time of publication. Almost 90% of companies reported attacks City Power and Eskom are not alone in their vulnerability to cyber threats, as a Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) study highlighted the widespread nature of attacks. CSIR's report from October showed that 47% of South African organisations reported between one and five cybersecurity incidents in the 2023/24 financial year. The survey found that 88% of companies had suffered at least one cyber breach, with 90% of companies having been targeted more than once. The CSIR advocated for greater investment in cybersecurity, improved digital identity and the fostering of public-private partnerships. 'Cybersecurity must therefore be prioritised as a strategic imperative across all aspects of governance and service delivery,' stated Cybersecurity Hub's Dr Kiru Pillay in the report. Meters and vendors Smart meter and electricity token vendors are external access points that can be exploited to disrupt operations. City Power said interfacing systems and token distribution infrastructure were subject to strict cybersecurity requirements in line with domestic and international standards. 'Contractual obligations enforce regular audits, data protection policies, and incident response capabilities,' said Mangena. 'These requirements are non-negotiable and are designed to ensure the integrity of our systems and the safety of customer information. 'Despite this, it's important to note that while these measures significantly reduce the risk of compromise, no digital system can be deemed entirely immune from exploitation,' he added. R15 million annually on security To cover the cost of securing the electricity network's digital infrastructure, City Power is allocated roughly R15 million a year for cybersecurity. Recent upgrades include end-to-end encryption of all data communications, regular updates to firmware and next-generation smart meters. 'While no system is completely immune to attacks, our investment in both human expertise and technological safeguards places us in a strong position to detect, respond to, and mitigate potential meter tampering,' said Mangena. The cybersecurity budget also covers training, research and development of new technologies and methods. 'Our investment reflects our commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure and customer data in the face of an ever-evolving cyber risk environment.' NOW READ: Here's when City Power won't pay up or fix your outage
The Citizen
18-05-2025
- The Citizen
City Power is monitoring this weak spot to stop power outages from theft
The utility said the full restoration of the M1 bridge line is expected on Sunday evening. City Power's repairs to cables under the M1 highway bridge in Johannesburg are nearing completion, but have been hit with at least two incidents of vandalism in less than a week. Cable theft last May sparked a fire in the tunnel under the bridge, which damaged key infrastructure, cut the power supply, and covered the CBD in smoke. As of Saturday, three 400-metre high-voltage cables had been replaced, and six high-integrity joints had been installed. The utility said full restoration is expected on Sunday evening. 63 meters of cable were stolen from the M1 corridor earlier this month, with another 80 meters of earthing wire stolen last Sunday. On Wednesday, a suspect was caught near a tunnel entrance with 20 pieces of stolen earthing conductor. 'These essential safety components provide grounding for high-voltage networks, ensuring fault currents dissipate safely and maintaining grid stability. 'Their removal jeopardises safe operations, requiring extensive rework and system testing before energisation proceeds,' explained City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena. ALSO READ: Dozens of Eskom transformers are being stolen, police make key arrest Weak spot identified by City Power Mangena said the utility had ramped up surveillance and patrols, especially near manholes. The holes have been found to be vulnerable and are an increasingly common way to get access to cables. 'Preliminary findings suggest increasing instances of unauthorised access to the tunnel network, particularly through unsecured manholes, highlighting a broader security vulnerability that City Power and its partners are urgently working to address.' This was shown in another incident in the Joburg CBD on Thursday, when a 26-year-old homeless Malawian national reportedly breached a manhole and started hacking at cables underground. 'His arrest followed reports of distressing sounds from within the tunnel, prompting a rapid response from on-site security personnel. 'The suspect, found in possession of a hacksaw, attempted to flee but was swiftly apprehended and booked at Jeppe Police Station, where a case of tampering with critical infrastructure is being investigated,' said Mangena. The cost of cable theft In August, the utility said at least 130 people had been arrested over 12 months for theft and vandalism. Among these were City Power staff members and contractors, including security officers tasked with protecting vital infrastructure. Two months prior, it estimated the cost of losses to cable theft at R160 million for the first six months of 2024 alone. 4 633km of copper cable was stolen between the 2020 financial year to the end of October 2023. A 2023 GI-TOC report, entitled South Africa's Illicit Copper Economy, reported on the extent of cable and copper theft. 'Every day in South Africa, criminal elements strip copper from wherever they can find it, including roads, homes, construction sites, and mines. 'The theft of copper from already ailing infrastructure severely affects the capacity and operations of state-owned entities and municipalities,' it found. NOW READ: Bring in the army! City Power wants military to help fight cable theft crisis
eNCA
15-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
No threat of City Power debt cutoffs by Eskom
JOHANNESBURG - City Power has moved to remove confusion about the threat of cut-offs by Eskom over the municipal entity's more than R4-billion debt to the national supplier. Some reports had suggested this may be the route Eskom will take as the government entities dispute the amounts owed to each other. But the Johannesburg metro's electricity provider says mediation by the Electricity Minister is helping resolve the impasse. "There is no issue between City Power and Eskom, we are working together," said City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena.
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Eskom load reduction and City Power outage schedule
Eskom's load reduction schedule runs from Monday to Sunday, with varying time slots for different regions. Despite load shedding being suspended, planned outages and scheduled load reduction remain a concern for many Eskom and City Power customers. City Power has announced that Johannesburg residents in Region A and Region C will experience eight-hour power interruptions this week as part of the utility's ongoing maintenance efforts. Meanwhile, Eskom continues its load reduction programme. City Power outages In Region A, a planned power interruption on Thursday will affect customers in the Church Street switching station area. 'The interruption will take place from 09h00 until 17h00,' City Power said in its notice. The outage will impact several areas, including: Heather Road, Moritz Avenue, McDonald, Kingsway Road, North Street, Aitken, Church Street, Lupton Drive, Part of Richards, Pennylane Street, Broadway Walk, Pendulum, Grand Central Boulevard, Nupen, and Jabilee & Nupen. Residents in Region C will experience a power interruption at Panorama Switching Station on Sunday, from 08:00 until 16:00. The affected areas include: Panorama, Weltevreden Park, and Allens Neck. City Power explained that these interruptions are necessary to conduct essential maintenance work on their network as part of their commitment to 'striving to provide a better service.' The utility has advised customers to switch off appliances during the outages to prevent damage from power surges when electricity is restored. 'As the supply may be restored at any time, customers are urged to always treat their electricity supply points as live,' the company stated. City Power also issued an apology for any inconvenience caused by the planned outages. ALSO READ: Morero's vision to make Johannesburg a world-class African city Load reduction status: City Power vs Eskom While City Power has indefinitely suspended its load reduction service, according to the company's spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, this suspension is not permanent. Mangena warned that load reduction measures could be reinstated if certain conditions arise, such as 'a significant surge in electricity consumption, illegal connections, or meter tampering'. This means that although City Power customers are currently enjoying a break from load reduction, the utility maintains the right to reimplement these measures if necessary to manage electricity demand. In contrast, Eskom continues to implement its load reduction programme in areas it supplies directly. Amanda Qithi, Eskom's spokesperson in Gauteng, previously confirmed to The Citizen that this would be the case. ALSO READ: City Power urges residents to use electricity sparingly as we enter 'critical period' Eskom's ongoing load reduction schedule Eskom's load reduction schedule operates from Monday to Sunday, with varying time slots for different regions. The power utility has indicated it would alert residents of any changes to the schedule, including any suspension of the programme. According to the current schedule, several areas across multiple blocks will experience load reductions throughout the week, affecting thousands of residents in Gauteng. The affected areas include: Protea Glen Orange Farm Vereeniging Daveyton Extensions 2, 3, and 4 Mabopane part 19 SP Garankuwa Chiawelo Kagiso Zola To see if your area is affected, click on or download the document below Load reduction schedule: Monday, 12 May – Sunday, 18 May. While load shedding may be suspended, residents in these areas should still prepare for potential power outages as both maintenance work and load reduction measures continue across Johannesburg and surrounding regions. NOW READ: Here's when City Power won't pay up or fix your outage
