City of Johannesburg official during the disconnection blitz recently. Photo: City of Joburg/ Facebook
City of Johannesburg considers removing its electricity grid from hostile communities
City of Johannesburg officials often get attacked, threatened, robbed, obstructed, or simply refused access to electricity and water meters.
City of Johannesburg official during the disconnection blitz recently. Photo: City of Joburg/ Facebook
The City of Johannesburg says it may be forced to consider totally removing communities and businesses that – constantly put the lives of its officials in danger from its electricity grid.
CITY OF JOHANNESBURG FINDING MECHANISM TO DEAL WITH HOSTILE COMMUNITIES
Communications & Stakeholder Management at City of Johannesburg Kgamanyane Maphologela revealed that City officials often get attacked, threatened, robbed, obstructed, or simply refused access to electricity and water meters when attempting to read these meters or effecting disconnections at properties that are illegally connected to municipal services.
“In September 2023 alone, at least 2605 customers who collectively owe the City a staggering more than R464.5 million for water services are in communities which are classified as problematic areas where the City has no access. A further 323 customers who owe the City more than R46.6 million for water services, either intimidated or refused the Johannesburg Water Meter Readers access to those meters,” he said.
ALSO READ: DA: Gauteng Health should pay its electricity bills
“In the same month, the City struggled to collect a whopping more than R71.3 million that is owed for electricity as City Power technicians faced intimidation from 143 customers.”
Maphologela
ALSO READ: City Power threatens to cut off Joburg hospitals owing millions
ABOUT CUSTOMERS WHO MAKE LIVES OF OFFICIALS HARD
He said these are customers who blatantly reconnect themselves to services each time they get disconnected and refuse to cooperate with the City.
The City’s Group Chief Financial Officer, Tebogo Moraka added that the City is losing billions of rands from illegal connections and reconnections of electricity and water services.
“The safety of our officials is very important. Lawlessness and any deliberate action endangering their lives will not be tolerated. We will ultimately be forced to consider the complete disconnection of electricity supply to these problematic areas. It’s unacceptable that our staff increasingly face resistance and intimidation for doing their jobs from communities and businesses they serve. We want to caution residents that, electricity and water meters are property of the City of Johannesburg,” said Moraka.
Moraka reiterated that the City will not hesitate to lay criminal charges or effect arrests, impose hefty fines, and immediately disconnect electricity and water supply to those who illegally connect themselves to the services.
ALSO READ: Clinic in Eldorado Park CLOSED due to threats to nursing staff
ELECTRICITY GRID CUT OFF AMONG FIGHTING STRATEGIES
Moraka warned that the City of Johannesburg won’t back down against fierce lawlessness but will instead intensify its disconnection blitz against illegal connections and reconnections of electricity and water services across the City.
“We are resolute to collect every cent that is owed to the City. We are bringing everyone on board on our disconnection operations which include Johannesburg Metro Policy Department, Revenue, City Power, Johannesburg Water, and other crucial departments to strengthen our operations,” he said.
ALSO READ: Joburg CBD DISASTER building belonged to City of Johannesburg, but got HIJACKED
NB: Customers who wish to make payment arrangements and do not wish to visit any of the abovementioned walk-in-centres may contact the City’s Credit Control Department by emailing them on creditcontrol@joburg.org.za
