The Bryanston Golf Club, Damelin College, a shopping centre, and a lodge were among a number of properties that were disconnected by City Power on Thursday.
The cut-off operation by Johannesburg’s power utility was taken to the Randburg service delivery centre (SDC) area in a bid to recoup billions of rands owed to the entity.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said late in the afternoon on Thursday that the operation was part of the utility’s ongoing campaign to disconnect defaulting and non-paying customers in the Randburg SDC area.
R800m owed by Randburg SDC
Mangena said the Randburg SDC owes the power utility more than R800-million, with businesses accounting for a huge chunk of the debt.
The cut-off campaign, dubbed #CityPowerIyakhatha, was a success, Mangena said, noting that the entity was targeting debt of R43-million from 25 residents and businesses in the Randburg SDC area.
Damelin College’s campus in Randburg owes City Power more than R2-million in unpaid electricity rates, according to Mangena, while the shopping centre is sitting on R3-million debt.
“Several businesses that had illegal connections and bypassed meters including the Bryanston Golf Club and a lodge were disconnected,” he said.
Mangena added that at least three of the customers disconnected on Thursday visited the Randburg SDC to pay 50% of their debts, penalties and entered into payment arrangements with the City of Johannesburg.
The customers, stated Mangena, were expected to be reconnected later on Thursday.
Mangena said City Power will continue with its cut-off operations in order to raise revenue needed to provide basic services for residents and businesses across the city.
Zero tolerance to non-payers
“City Power has in recent weeks intensified its revenue-collection drive in all its service-delivery areas, with businesses and government worryingly found with defaulting accounts.
“City Power has adopted a zero tolerance to non-payers and defaulters, and we urge those who know their accounts are not in order to visit our service delivery centres to settle their bills or get into an arrangement.
“The weekly cut-off operations are an opportunity for City Power to recover the much-needed revenue to enable us to continue to provide essential services to the city’s residents and businesses,” said Mangena.
Over a week ago, the department of health in Gauteng flagged allegations by City Power that two hospitals in the city were in arrears for unpaid electricity bills.
This after City Power officials visited Helen Joseph Hospital and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital to serve them with pre-termination notices.
Collectively, the health facilities were said to be owing City Power more than R30-million.
