In a bid to recover billions of rands owed to the entity by defaulting customers, City Power disconnected Damelin College’s Randburg campus on Thursday.
The move is part of the Johannesburg power entity’s rolling cut-off operation across the city. Businesses, schools, households and government institutions are being targeted.
According to City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena, Damelin College owes the power utility R2 018.916.02.
Mangena said the Thursday’s cut-off operation aimed to recoup R42-million, with about 25 businesses and residential customers targeted.
Mangena said the defaulting customers were in Bryanston, Fontainebleau, Blairgowrie, Kelland and Hoogland, just to name a few.
Cut-off operation across the city
He added that City Power’s ongoing cut-off operation across the city seeks not to only recover billions of rands owed to it, but to send a strong message to non-paying customers to settle their debts.
Moreover, through its official X.com account, City Power said a residential customer who owes the entity R1.9-million was also disconnected.
“A residential defaulting customer who does not have a running meter and has been reconnecting themselves several times after being disconnected was also disconnected,” Mangena said.
“The customer is connected illegally to City Power’s infrastructure.”
The entity also disconnected the Cabanga Conference Centre in Olivenhoutpoort for being “inconsistent” with payment and owing the entity R1.4-million.
In addition, a company called URSISYS was also disconnected for owing City Power R257 680.59.
“The customer had downgraded the meter, however, the previous account is still in arrears owing us R257 680.59.
“The business needs to settle the outstanding amount before they can downgrade.”
Early in October, City Power officials hit the road visiting defaulting customers who owed the entity.
Among the places visited were the Helen Joseph Hospital and the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital.
Collectively, the health facilities were said to be owing City Power more than R30-million.
The department of health in Gauteng later disputed City Power’s claims that the health facilities were owing money.
