Wanderers stadium among City Power customers owing millions in unpaid electricity

The Wanderers Cricket Stadium in Illovo, Johannesburg is allegedly among the City Power customer whose electricity was cut-off in an effort to recoup millions of rands owed to the regional power utility.

City Power said it is on a revenue collection drive targeting customers owing the utility R18 million in areas supplied by the Alexandra Service Delivery Centre (SDC).

Spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the Alexandra SDC is in total owed more than R470 million by residential customers, businesses and large power users.

Wanderers

Mangena said the entity as a whole is sitting with around R10-billion debt from non-paying customers.

“We have disconnected Wanderers Stadium which is owing about R3 million and Planet Fitness gym facility that is owing about R12 million, it’s based in Wanderers as well, and a business property with R2.6 million in arrears were among those disconnected.

“Shortly after the cut-off, the management of the gym, wired R2.9 million into the City Power account, which amounts to the 30% down-payment requirement to allow for reconnection,” Mangena said.

Mangena said Wanderers Stadium has entered into a payment arrangement and been reconnected.

Gym denies owing money to City Power

After the statement by Mangena, Planet Fitness South Africa it was “untrue” it had an unpaid electricity bill. It said the billing dispute was between the landlord of Wanderers Planet Fitness and City Power. 

“We would like to state that there are no outstanding payments or monies owing to the power utility. As a tenant of Wanderers Stadium, Planet Fitness South Africa is contracted to pay the landlord directly regarding its lease agreement and the payment of utilities. We are not a customer of City Power Johannesburg in this instance,” it said. 

“It was falsely reported that Planet Fitness wired R2.9 million into City Power’s account after authorities made a very public display of entering the Planet Fitness Wanderers Club on Wednesday 27 March, threatening to cut off the power supply. Videos and images have been posted to this effect, which is misleading and damaging to our brand.” 

‘Pay your bills’

Mangena said it’s concerning that City Power customers wait for the entity to take drastic action before they pay.

“In the past few weeks, we have noticed a similar trend and it’s worrying because some of these account holders spend months without paying a cent towards their electricity bills. During the revenue drive in the Reuven SDC, the management of a shopping complex paid over R1 million on the spot.

“These weekly operations are aimed at ensuring that revenue which is essential for maintenance and infrastructure investment, is collected in order to close the growing debt levels,” Mangena said.

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Electricity supply   

Mangena said City Power cannot afford to continue to supply electricity to customers who are not paying for the service provided to them.

“This is not sustainable and affects the entity’s liquidity. City Power encourages those owing the utility to pay or make arrangements before the entity visits them,” Mangena said.

Editor’s note: This article was amended on 2 April 2024 to include the response from Planet Fitness.

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