Over a period of nine months, 449 claims were received by the utility for damages amounting to nearly R20 million.
In a written response to questions regarding claims made to City Power, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Matshidiso Mfikoe said from 1 July 2013 to 31 March 2014 claims to the amount of R17 782 857 were made.
She did not specify which of these claims had been resolved to date. The claims process takes eight weeks and involves an investigation into the cause of the damage.
Joburg residents were hard hit by power outages due to the theft of City Power’s infrastructure.
Most recently, businesses and residents in the south of Joburg were without electricity for days after 88 kilovolt electricity pylons between the Nirvana and Nancefield substations were stolen.
