City Power has disconnected five hijacked buildings in Doornfontein, Johannesburg, due to a collective debt of nearly R5m. One building owes approximately R2m. City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena stated that disconnections in the inner city aim to recover money and address safety concerns related to illegal electricity connections. The utility has identified 108 problematic buildings across the inner city, owing around R115m.
Mangena emphasized that electricity theft is a significant issue, with City Power losing around R18bn annually. The utility typically doesn't disconnect properties immediately when they fall into arrears. Instead, it sends warning letters and reminders, attempts to contact property owners by phone, and sends teams to try to find owners. However, officials often find that buildings have been hijacked and occupied.
City Power issues about three pre-termination notices before disconnecting a property if the owner doesn't respond. Despite disconnections, occupants of hijacked buildings often reconnect themselves illegally. Mangena likened it to informal settlements, where people reconnect after disconnection. The utility is working with other City of Johannesburg departments to address the issue.
City Power is concerned about safety risks posed by hijacked buildings, citing the Usindiso building fire as an example of potentially deadly consequences. The utility wants some buildings that don't meet safety requirements to be declared unliveable. In cases where no owner comes forward, City Power has started removing its infrastructure from properties.
Mangena defended the time taken to act against some buildings, stating that City Power doesn't want to disconnect properties before giving owners a chance to settle their debts. Some owners have come forward after a year or two and paid their debts. The utility hopes to recover outstanding debt when the city takes over certain properties and sells them to private developers.
The disconnections are part of City Power's efforts to address electricity theft and safety concerns in hijacked buildings. The utility has identified 108 bad buildings across the inner city, owing around R115m. City Power aims to recover money and ensure public safety.
City Power's approach to disconnections involves a series of steps before taking action. The utility aims to balance debt recovery with providing opportunities for property owners to settle their debts. The issue of hijacked buildings and electricity theft remains a significant challenge for City Power and the City of Johannesburg.
Key points
- City Power has identified 108 problematic buildings across the inner city, owing around R115m.
- The utility loses around R18bn annually due to electricity theft.
- City Power aims to recover money and ensure public safety in hijacked buildings.
