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City Power workers disconnect illegal connections at the Rockridge complex in Yeoville in Johannesburg, on September 29, 2020, for illegal connections and non-payment for electricity. Image: Nigel Sibanda
When a resident’s electricity was cut off, the resident was required to pay a fine of R12,000 to R25,000 before negotiating the remainder of the debt.
Power to more than 20 homes in the elite Dainfern Estate was disconnected on Wednesday.
According to City Power spokesman Isaac Mangena, many Dainfern residents had illegally connected to the power supply by bypassing or tampering with meters, resulting in the customer being incorrectly billed.
The highest individual debt in an equity was R1.4 million.
“We often find complexes and properties behind high walls where most of the illegal connections and non-payment are located. Sometimes we come across illegal connections that are made to survive, while others simply ignore paying your bill.
“We lose more than R2 billion a year, which is not only due to technical losses, but also to illegal connections and high unpaid bills,” Mangena said.
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City Power workers disconnect illegal connections at various properties in Dainfern in Johannesburg on September 29, 2020, for illegal connections and non-payment of electricity. Image: Nigel Sibanda
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City Power workers disconnect illegal connections at the Rockridge complex in Yeoville in Johannesburg, on September 29, 2020, for illegal connections and non-payment for electricity. Image: Nigel Sibanda
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City Power workers disconnect illegal connections at various properties in Dainfern in Johannesburg on September 29, 2020, for illegal connections and non-payment of electricity. Image: Nigel Sibanda
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City Power workers disconnect illegal connections at the Rockridge complex in Yeoville in Johannesburg on September 29, 2020, for illegal connections and non-payment of electricity. Image: Nigel Sibanda
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City Power workers disconnect illegal connections at the Rockridge complex in Yeoville in Johannesburg on September 29, 2020, for illegal connections and non-payment of electricity. Image: Nigel Sibanda
When a resident’s electricity was cut off, the resident was required to pay a fine of R12,000 to R25,000 before negotiating the remainder of the debt.
Dainfern’s ongoing operation was part of City Power’s revenue-raising effort. It included officials from City Power’s income protection unit and the metro police department.
In an operation in Yeoville, resident Ramo Makhoa said cutting off the power was unfair to those who had recently moved into the complex.
The City of Joburg must consider residents who are suffering from past homeowner debt.
“I am disappointed that they are cutting our power even though we have agreed to reimburse the charges from the day we moved in,” he said.
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