Randburg Residents Plunged into Darkness as City Power Disconnects Over R22 Million Debt

In a bold move to recover unpaid electricity bills, City Power has disconnected the electricity supply to eight residential complexes and one old age home in Randburg. These properties collectively owe a staggering R22.9 million, prompting the power utility to take decisive action.

Aggressive Revenue Collection Drive

The Randburg Service Delivery Centre (SDC) spearheaded the revenue collection drive, targeting defaulting customers across the area. With a debt of R550 million owed to the SDC alone, the initiative aims to significantly reduce this financial burden. Tshililo Nefale, the general manager of the Randburg SDC, emphasized the importance of this drive for maintaining the city’s electrical infrastructure.

“The money owed to us is crucial for the maintenance of our infrastructure. Without these funds, the lifespan of our equipment is significantly reduced,” Nefale explained.

Illegal Connections Discovered

During the disconnection process, officials uncovered illegal connections at some of the properties. One residential complex, which owes over R8 million, had reconnected its electricity supply illegally after a previous disconnection. Nqobani Mzizi, senior manager of revenue enforcement, stated that legal action would be taken against the owners.

“We will file a criminal case against the residential complex owner for illegally tapping into the power grid while still owing a substantial amount,” Mzizi said.

Impact on Residents

The disconnections have left many residents in a difficult situation. A student living in one of the affected complexes expressed his frustration after his laptop shut down during an online class due to the power cut.

“I’m a Political Science student at Wits, and I was in an online class with a low laptop battery. Now, I’m forced to go to campus to get my work done,” he lamented.

A Call for Payment

City Power is urging all customers with outstanding balances to come forward and settle their accounts. Nefale highlighted the various payment options available, including installment plans.

“We urge all customers owing money to City Power to make payments. We offer different types of payment methods, including three-month or five-month installment plans,” Nefale said.

Ongoing Efforts

The revenue collection drive is part of City Power’s broader strategy to recover billions owed to the entity and ensure the sustainability of its services. Weekly operations will continue across all service delivery centres to crack down on defaulting customers and maintain the city’s electrical infrastructure.

City Power’s aggressive stance on debt recovery underscores the critical need for customers to fulfill their financial obligations, ensuring the continued provision of essential services.