Residents in Mahauzana, part of Alexandra’s River Park area, say they have grown tired of City Power’s same old story.

Since last year, residents have been told that proper power connections are coming, and that they will finally be able to buy electricity and stop relying on dangerous illegal connections, but time after time, those promises have fallen flat, according to resident Mapule Mogoba. “On June 30, we were waiting for them to install electricity. They didn’t even come, and they don’t communicate.”

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She said that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, prompting their march on July 14 to City Power’s offices to hand over a memorandum of demands. Residents said they want their area formally electrified.
Mogoba explained that while a distributer was brought to Mahauzana, it was left at the gate. Since then, nothing has happened. “We want them to install meter boxes so that we can also buy electricity. That is what we have been telling them from the start.”

Instead, dangerous illegal connections hang low along streets like Thomas Molepo Street, a constant worry for parents whose children play outside.

Jackie Dikgale, who handed over the memorandum, said inconsistent power supply affects most residents in River Park. “As much as they want people to pay for electricity, they must service people.”

While acknowledging the need for residents to buy electricity, he criticised City Power’s method of pushing for compliance. He said the power utility often threatens to disconnect people. “If democracy allows us to treat our people by threatening them, then this is not democracy.”

Residents say they have been patient, but the lack of communication and progress on the electrification project has worn them down.

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City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena revealed that the utility’s hands are tied when it comes to fully electrifying Mahauzana, since the flats in the area have been unlawfully occupied. “We cannot condone illegality. If we electrify them tomorrow, it will be condoning illegality. The regulations, Nersa, and other laws we have to abide by do not allow that to happen.”

However, Mangena said that working together with residents, they managed to find an interim solution. “Part of what we said we can do is provide bulk supply, which will end at the gate outside, not inside. So, what we have started is a project to make sure we bring bulk supply outside.”

He added that the only outstanding issue is getting a cable, which the contractor has promised to deliver before month-end. Still, residents will need to handle the internal reticulation themselves, installing service cables to their homes, ensuring they have the necessary boxes, and meters as well.

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