City Power’s stolen megger disrupts power repairs in Alexandra

The theft of a critical testing tool has left City Power struggling to address electrical outages in the Alexandra.

Xoliswa Zakwe

November 6, 2024

A City Power megger such as this one was stolen in Vasco Da Gama, Alexandra.

An unfortunate incident on October 19 left City Power grappling with service disruptions in Alexandra.
This was after a team of technicians was mugged while conducting repairs near Vasco Da Gama.
The criminals stole valuable tools from the victims, including a megger – a specialised device for testing electrical infrastructure during fault detection and after repairs.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena expressed concern over the theft, highlighting that the stolen equipment was useless to the average citizen.

“This equipment is not something you can steal and simply plug in at home. It is specifically designed for electricity fault finding and repairs when issues arise with the supply,” he said.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena asks the residents to stand against criminals and report them immediately as it is essential to restoring safety and service delivery in the area. Photo: Xoliswa Zakwe

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The implications of the theft have been significant, as the utility relied on these tools to restore power promptly. “After the megger was stolen, residents experienced extended power outages as we had to source one from other service delivery centres. Our ability to restore electricity swiftly has been severely compromised.”

Currently, City Power is facing another challenge – a power outage affecting residents between Vasco Da Gama and 6th Avenue, resulting from excavation work done by Joburg Water that damaged a medium voltage cable.

To remediate the issue, technicians need to test the cables to identify the problem, yet the absence of a megger has stalled their efforts. “We are waiting to borrow a megger from Midrand, but if they are busy addressing their outages, we cannot move forward.”

Highlighting the frustration within the community Mangena said, “We have repeatedly communicated that the threats our teams face, including hijackings and thefts, hinder our ability to respond efficiently to outages in Alexandra. Our technicians are genuinely scared to operate in an environment where their safety is at risk.

“It’s disheartening that individuals within the community may unknowingly harbour stolen equipment. We urge residents to stand against these criminals. If you see someone with stolen tools, report them immediately; it is essential to restoring safety and service delivery in Alexandra.”