After nearly three months without electricity, frustrated residents along 11th Avenue in Ward 108 accuse City Power of using outages as leverage to force compliance.

Community member Mthokozisi Khambule, speaking on behalf of affected households, expressed deep resentment over the utility’s approach.

“They wait for electricity to trip first, and then they come and tell you that you must start paying. That is not how the government works,” he said.

Read more: City Power confirms widespread meter tampering on 11th Avenue

Khambule confirmed that residents met with City Power and ward councillor Deborah Francisco in October last year after infrastructure problems surfaced. Francisco said City Power teams then insisted on meter box installations before restoring supply.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said 384 meters were installed on 11th Avenue but later tampered with, allowing households to consume electricity without paying. “It is theft, and it places enormous strain on the network, causing outages, equipment damage, and safety risks such as fires and explosions,” he warned.

Residents acknowledged that the installations followed City Power’s vending audits, and were aware that the installation of meters stems from City Power’s policy of ensuring that at least 80% of customers in an area are buying electricity legitimately before restoring supply.

Still, Khambule argued the approach feels coercive. “If they don’t install the meter box, they won’t switch the lights back on. You must understand that electricity is a basic need,” he said.

Khambule admitted some residents bypassed the new meters despite earlier agreements. “People agreed that they would pay. But afterwards, they bypassed their meters. Yes, we know it is wrong,” he said. He added that senior citizens in the area cannot afford electricity without support.

According to Francisco, in the previous meeting, those who could not afford to pay for electricity agreed to apply for the Expanded Social Package (ESP) programme.

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“They agreed to go and apply for ESP. I arranged all those things. The ESP was happening at the corner of 11th and Joe Nhlanhla Street.“

But she noted that some residents still chose to bypass their meters. Francisco expressed concerns that residents often agree to solutions in meetings but later resist implementation or demand power restoration first.

@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Although 384 households on 11th Avenue in Ward 108 have bypassed their newly installed meters, according to City Power, resident Mthokozisi Khambule says the residents are not opposed to paying for electricity. Video: Itumeleng Maloka #Citypower #Ward108 ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

Mangena confirmed that residents now face fines of R14 408 and R4 605 for pensioners, before electricity can be restored.

While some residents feel targeted, Mangena said that these steps are not aimed solely at Alexandra, but are part of a citywide programme designed to normalise electricity supply and safeguard its infrastructure.

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