By Everson Luhanga
Residents of Alexandra should expect unpleasant visitors in the next few days, since City of Joburg’s City Power has warned that they will be going door-to-door to disconnect power from those not paying the entity.
City Power’s Isaac Mangena told Scrolla.Africa that this operation will also be taken to all other regions of the city.
“In the next few days City Power officials will be going to the heart of Alexandra to knock on the doors of the customers that have defaulted on their accounts,” he said.
He said households will not be the only target. Officials have already targeted businesses, hi-jacked buildings, government schools and hotspot areas rife with bypassed meters and illegal connections, and have proceeded with the removal of izinyokanyoka (illegal connections).
Over the past two days, City Power has been on a campaign to disconnect power from businesses that have been defaulting on their accounts in the city’s Region E.
The old Alexandra police station, which is now being used as the station’s offices, was one of those targeted, and was disconnected.
Mangena said City Power resolved to take a tough line on the persistent culture of non-payment by restricting services where businesses refuse to pay.
He said the Alexandra Service Delivery Centre (SDC) seeks to recover at least R36 million owed to it.
“City Power’s overall provision of debt stands at R4 billion across the City of Johannesburg.
“The Alexandra SDC is owed a total of R363 million and therefore generates the least revenue,” according to Mangena.
He said this operation further aims to improve the profitability performance and position of City Power to continue maintaining its infrastructure and to provide essential services to the residents of Johannesburg.
He added that the targeted businesses were given pre-disconnection notices months ago but had failed to make payment arrangements. They include petrol stations, government institutions, manufacturing companies, government learning institutions and places of worship.
During the operation, some businesses were found to have bridged meters and others had meters that were not registered in City Power’s grid or billing system.
Other businesses heard of the operation and rushed to settle their accounts. An educational institution paid its R900,000 bill, but upon arrival, technicians found that their mini-substation had been vandalised a few days before and cables were stolen from the facility.
“We urge customers, especially business customers, to come to us and pay their debts or make arrangements before we go to them.”
Pictured above: City Power officials disconnecting electricity from businesses with unpaid accounts.
Photo source: City Power / Isaac Mangena
