By Everson Luhanga
- A City Power contractor was assaulted and threatened with a gun during a meter disconnection at a Florida home owing more than R56,000.
- City Power and metro police uncovered a backyard electricity syndicate in Tshepisong that was feeding homes and an informal settlement.
Johannesburg City Power has launched a crackdown on criminals targeting the city’s power supply after two disturbing incidents in Roodepoort this week.
The entity’s general manager, Isaac Mangena, said that on Thursday, 10 July, a City Power contractor was held hostage at a house in Florida while doing a routine meter audit and disconnection. The homeowner, who owed over R56,975, allegedly became violent after being told their power would be cut.
Mangena said the suspect reportedly locked the gate, assaulted the technician and threatened him with a gun. The homeowner claimed to have signed an acknowledgement of debt and said they had paid R30,000, but had no proof of payment.
He said the technician was following standard procedures and should never have faced such violence. The company strongly condemned the attack and urged customers to settle disputes lawfully.
“While the contractor has not yet opened a police case, City Power reminded the public that assaulting workers is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated,” said Mangena.
Just one day earlier, on Wednesday, 9 July, City Power and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department raided a property in Tshepisong, west of Johannesburg. A resident had alerted them to an illegal electricity network being run from a home.
“Technicians found a web of underground and overhead cables connecting the house to nearby households and an informal settlement. The power had been illegally diverted from a municipal supply line,” said Mangena.
He said about 250 kilograms of illegal cabling were removed. The homeowner, who allegedly charged neighbours for access to the stolen electricity, is still on the run.
Mangena said these crimes endanger lives, strain the grid and rob paying customers of reliable service. The utility has promised zero tolerance for any illegal connections, cable theft or attacks on workers.
City Power also praised members of the public who reported suspicious activity and asked residents to keep working with them to protect the city’s power supply.
Pictured above: City Power officials at work.
Image source: City Power
