Six armed robbers ambush City Power contractor near Kwa MaiMai

City Power has bemoaned the increasing number of criminal attacks on its employees, contractors, and security personnel.

The power utility says these incidents threaten to bring service delivery to a halt in parts of Johannesburg.

In the latest incident on Thursday, a City Power contractor was ambushed by six armed robbers while trenching near Kwa Mai Mai under the bridge close to Karzerne Substation.

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The incident interrupted part of the ongoing overhaul of ageing infrastructure, contributing to intermittent outages.

“The robbery, carried out in broad daylight, is a disgraceful affront to the teams working to restore stable power supply for the benefit of Johannesburg’s residents,” said City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena.

“City Power strongly condemns the cowardly and barbaric acts of violence carried out by criminal elements who have made it their mission to terrorise workers and sabotage critical infrastructure in Johannesburg.”

On Monday, a shootout erupted at the corner of Nicholson and Main Reef Road after security personnel and law enforcement officers came under heavy fire from armed criminals.

According to Mangena, the attackers opened fire, forcing a tactical retreat and damaging a South African Police Service (Saps) vehicle in the process.

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“These criminals are not just stealing cables or phones; they are robbing communities of light, safety and dignity.”

Since July 2024, the power utility has recorded four robbery incidents and two shootouts.

“These acts are nothing short of economic sabotage. They strike at the core of Johannesburg’s functionality and subject ordinary citizens to the consequences of prolonged outages and insecurity.”

City Power employees involved

Not only is City Power contending with armed criminals outside, but also its own employees, as they too partake in acts of sabotage.

On Wednesday, the power utility announced it had dismissed nine workers and suspended several managers on various charges.

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The employees face charges ranging from theft to fraud, negligence and dishonesty.

They were part of 47 disciplinary cases processed between March 2024 and March 2025.

While some workers have been suspended and dismissed, others were given final written warnings. Some are still awaiting the outcome of their disciplinary cases from the presiding officers.

A City Power investigation discovered that 12 electricians, eight security officers, five team leaders, and several senior managers had been implicated in serious criminal conduct such as cable theft, fraud and soliciting bribes.

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“We have also uncovered that the challenge we have been battling with surrounding the shortages of materials was not only related to heightened demand for replacement equipment, but that our own employees were simply handing these tools to contractors from the stores and supposedly benefiting from those transactions,” said City Power.

Their investigation continues.