Tension in Mayibuye over power outages and service disruptions

Frustration boiled over in Mayibuye as thousands of residents took to the streets on June 30, protesting days of power outages, service disruptions, and what they call City Power’s failure to fulfil promises.

The demonstration, marked by road closures and police action, including the firing of rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd, highlights growing tensions in a community that says it has been left in the dark, both literally and figuratively, for far too long.

Thousands of community members took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the power outage in certain parts of the township that has been ongoing since June 25.

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The protest, on June 30, follows the residents’ first protest, when the City Power officials were blocked from leaving the township after they, allegedly, disconnected some parts of the area.

In response to the first protest, City Power announced that restoring electricity to the township, under the current conditions, was unsafe and unsustainable. On June 29, they further acknowledged the unplanned outages, caused by network overloads and worsened by illegal connections and tampering with meters in Mayibuye.

Spokesperson Isaac Mangena explained that power restoration has been suspended in the area due to threats and incidents of intimidation against staff, which compromises their safety. “This follows a recent and deeply troubling incident in which City Power technicians were held hostage and threatened while conducting legitimate maintenance work in the area.”

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He emphasised that the utility will not resume work until the community ensures safe access, co-operates with a full meter audit, and agrees to normalise all tampered or bypassed meters. Mangena warned that interference with power infrastructure is a criminal offence, and reiterated that ongoing lawlessness prevents them from working safely.

However, residents refute these claims, accusing City Power of failing to complete the normalisation of smart meters, which has led to continued disconnections and overloads. Community leader Thapelo Nkoane stated that residents blocked Moderfontein Road on June 30 in response to City Power’s announcement. “We are here, on Moderfontein Road. We have closed it in response to a statement made by City Power on the 29th, stating that they can no longer come to Mayibuye to provide service until we meet their demands, which include ensuring that residents of Mayibuye purchase electricity.

Also read: City Power continues smart metering project in Klipfontein, after success in Mayibuye

“It has been five days without electricity, and City Power must come and address our concerns. We have already signed a memorandum with them, and we want them to engage with us on these issues. Our protest is peaceful, and we are here to voice our concerns.”

Nkoane also responded to comments made by Ward 110 councillor Angie Mphaho that the protest was politically motivated. Mphaho criticised residents for demanding electricity while preventing City Power officials from working. “The residents contacted me, asking for help from City Power to address some of their issues. I called City Power, but when they arrived, residents prevented them from entering the township to help resolve the electricity challenges.”

According to City Power, in December 2023, they installed 1 711 meters in Mayibuye, but currently, only around 500 residents are legally purchasing electricity.

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