Randburg Service Delivery Centre collection drive aims to recover over R30m by disconnecting City Power customers who aren’t paying
City Power disconnected power supply for 12 non-paying customers around Randburg and Bryanston
At the recent Randburg Service Delivery Centre (SDC) collection drive, City Power’s revenue management specialist Tshepo Rammuki confirmed that the SDC is owed R650m, and were aiming to recover R36.2m from 12 defaulting customers around the area and in Bryanston.
Read more: City Power disconnects Randpark View and Beija Flor Lifestyle Corner for outstanding debts
The collection drive was launched to recover overdue payments from customers, leading to widespread disconnections of electricity supply.
The enforcement drive began in the late morning of October 10, affecting businesses in the Randpark Ridge centre, which owed R4.3m, and in Beija Flor Lifestyle Corner, owing over R9m. Two other businesses in Kya Sands, Hoogland, owing over R8m worth of unpaid bills, were disconnected.
This led to some businesses affected, and owners furious as they went outside, greeted by the officials dressed in their reflective uniforms, disconnecting the power supply.
The owner of a laundry business in a centre in Randpark Ridge, known as ‘Jimmy’, expressed his frustration that the power entity did not inform the tenants and they could have handled the situation differently.
“We paid our rent to the landlord, and they should have contacted him and dealt with him. This will badly affect my business because, now, we are going to stop operations, and we won’t generate any income as a result of this. Now, this is affecting the businesses around, who have played their part. It is unfair. At least they should have contacted us.”
After the disconnection, some retail stores were seen closing their doors, while others resorted to using generators.
Also read: City Power disconnects unauthorised connections in Kya Sands
Rammuki explained that they are doing this drive so that they can be able to service the infrastructure, and be able to provide uninterrupted power supply services to the customers.
“We have two options that customers can use to settle their bills, they can pay 50% of what they owe, paying the remaining balance over six months, or they can pay 30%, and pay the remaining balance over three months.”
As City Power’s enforcement efforts intensified, he confirmed that two other customers came forward a few minutes after the disconnection, with one paying 30% of their debt and the other paying R2.1m on-site.
“We are hopeful that the other customers we disconnected will make efforts and come forward to make arrangements and pay their outstanding debt. We also make a plea with those who can’t afford it, to come and have a conversation with us to see how we can assist each other.”
Rammuki stated that the entire power entity is sitting with staggering debt of about R9.8b and encouraged owing customers to reach out to their billing departments to discuss possible payment arrangements.
“Since the collection drive was implemented in the 2023/2024 financial year, it has been effective in two keyways: Improving our revenue collection process and identifying and disconnecting customers who have illegally connected to the grid.”
He added it is proving to be helpful. They have observed a noticeable increase in revenue collection, which directly reflects the success of the initiative.
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Related article: City Power warns against connecting to grid illegally
