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EZEKIEL PHALANA
ADDITIONAL INFO BY CITY POWER
The City of Johannesburg, in partnership with City Power, has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure, strengthening service delivery, and promoting compliance with municipal regulations through intensified efforts to address electricity theft, illegal connections, and non-payment of services.
Speaking on these challenges, Acting City Power CEO Charles Tlouane emphasised that electricity theft and persistent non-payment continue to place immense strain on the city’s power network, undermining the utility’s ability to maintain infrastructure, respond to outages, and provide reliable electricity services to residents and businesses.
“Illegal connections and non-payment are not victimless acts. They compromise network stability, endanger communities, damage infrastructure, and divert resources away from essential maintenance and development projects,” said Tlouane. “City Power remains committed to enforcing compliance while engaging communities on the importance of responsible electricity usage and account payments.”
City Power Head of Security, Sergeant Thela, highlighted the growing security and operational risks associated with electricity theft. He noted that illegal connections frequently result in overloaded systems, equipment failures, and dangerous conditions that threaten both residents and technical personnel.
“Electricity theft weakens the integrity of the network and creates significant safety hazards. Our security teams continue to work closely with law enforcement and municipal authorities to identify offenders, remove illegal connections, and protect critical infrastructure,” said Thela.
Addressing the broader governance and regulatory framework, City of Johannesburg MMC for Development Planning Eunice Mgcina underscored the importance of compliance with municipal by-laws and accountability across all sectors of society.
“Compliance with municipal regulations is fundamental to sustainable development, effective service delivery, and responsible urban management. The City will continue to enforce by-laws fairly and consistently to ensure that all residents and businesses contribute to the collective wellbeing of Johannesburg,” said Mgcina.
The City of Johannesburg and City Power continue to encourage residents to regularise illegal connections, settle outstanding accounts where possible, and report incidents of electricity theft. These collective efforts are essential to protecting public infrastructure, improving service reliability, and building a safer, more sustainable city for all.