City Power cuts defaulting businesses and complexes in Midrand

City Power acting CEO Stanley Shabangu says Midrand businesses and residents are prone to defaulting and leaving their service accounts in arrears.

September 28, 2023

Sphiwe Masilela 1 minute read

City Power truck loaded with illegal cable connections. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

City Power’s Service Delivery Centre cut the electricity supply to Midrand businesses and residential complexes for defaulting on payments on September 20.

The aim of the operation was to collect about R13.9m of R340m that is owed to the power utility by Midrand businesses and residents.

The first disconnection drive started in Erand Gardens where a warehouse owed City Power R1.5m and was promptly cut off. About 30 cars of City Power officials, Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) filled the streets of Midrand. A private college in Halfway House, which owed R1.2m was next on the list. A capital entity also in Halfway House was cut off following their R721 000 debt.

Field service manager Hamilton Mathatho switch off a mini-substation in Halfway House. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

The drive’s last stop at a townhouse complex, led by a body corporate, was the most working on the day as they defaulted on their electricity bill which allegedly amounted to R5m. Midrand Service Delivery Centre manager Katlego Mogale-Mokoni said these operations yielded positive results in their bid to recoup some of the money owed to them.

A sub-station in in Erand Gardens before it was cut off and replaced with new padlocks. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

“Currently, our debtors’ book in Midrand SDC is sitting at R340m. We are cutting them off with the hope that they will come forth and make payment arrangements. They are effective because some do acknowledge the debt and make arrangements to pay,” said Mogale-Mokoni.

Johannesburg Metro Police Department officials and City Power officials waiting to disconnect. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

Meanwhile, City Power’s acting CEO Stanley Shabangu, who was part of the disconnection operation was part of the power utility’s ‘aggressive efforts to ramp up revenue collection and enforce payment for services consumed’.

Silas Phukubje with Amos Lamola during the cut-off operation in Midrand. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

“We have a lot of places of this nature across the city, and we intend on making sure that we are paid what is due to us. Some positive results are coming through, with some revenue starting to come in and other customers making arrangements. The operation for today was aimed at collecting about R13m, ” said Shabangu.

Members of the media eagerly waiting for the cut off operation led by Midrand Service Delivery Centre. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

Shabangu concluded that Midrand was prone to defaulting but insisted not all customers were the same.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena urged customers who are in arrears or defaulted to approach their nearest service delivery centres across all regions to make arrangements, as they regard these operations as a last resort.