JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – City Power has announced a series of planned electricity interruptions scheduled across Johannesburg this week to maintain and stabilize the grid. Alongside the maintenance schedule, City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena raised urgent concerns regarding escalating infrastructure vandalism and organized criminal activity targeting the utility’s network and personnel.
According to Mangena, the utility embarks on routine maintenance every week to prolong the lifespan of the electricity network. He emphasized that these scheduled outages, which can last up to eight hours a day, are not intended to punish residents but are critical for ensuring a reliable and stable power supply.
The planned interruptions will affect several supply areas, including Randburg, Roodepoort, Midrand, Reuven, Lenasia, and Alexandra. To minimize disruption, City Power communicates these schedules to the public at least 7, 14, or 21 days in advance. The utility also coordinates closely with community leadership and councilors to schedule the work properly.
“We do not want to put more pressure on our residents,” Mangena explained, noting that planned maintenance is often postponed if a prolonged outage had recently occurred in the same area. Furthermore, the utility accommodates requests to reschedule work if there are special community events. The maintenance is typically conducted during the day, allowing small businesses, remote workers, schools, health services, and police stations to make alternative power arrangements.
Beyond routine maintenance, City Power is aggressively tackling revenue protection and illegal connections, which Mangena described as outright theft of electricity. The utility maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal connections, which are predominantly found in the city’s approximately 300 informal settlements or among those attempting to bypass electricity payments.
Unlike planned maintenance, no prior notice or appointments are made for the disconnection of illegal setups. Mangena highlighted a recent operation where authorities uncovered an organized criminal distribution network. During the crackdown, officials retrieved 10 stolen transformers belonging to both City Power and Eskom.
He explained that as people migrate to Johannesburg for economic and educational opportunities, informal settlements often emerge. Because service delivery infrastructure follows later, residents frequently resort to illegal connections, prompting the utility’s strict enforcement actions.
Looking ahead, Mangena warned that the current peak winter period often necessitates emergency maintenance due to the severe overloading of the electrical network. He assured residents that City Power will provide sufficient communication during these emergency instances, allowing the public and critical services ample time to prepare for the temporary power shutdowns.