‘We’ll cut your power in two hours’: Joburg residents targeted by electricity disconnection scam

Ward 89 councillor Zander Shawe has raised the alarm over a growing scam that’s preying on vulnerable residents by threatening false electricity disconnections.

Shawe acknowledged receiving several reports on this scam that has shaken public trust in Johannesburg’s already fragile municipal systems.

According to Shawe, the fraudsters exploit a key point of confusion: the difference between City Power and the City of Johannesburg’s revenue department. “Residents need to understand that City Power does not handle disconnections due to unpaid accounts — that responsibility lies with the City of Johannesburg,” he explained. This misinterpretation, he says, gives scammers just enough credibility to deceive residents into making hasty payments.

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Shawe said that the scam thrives largely due to inefficiencies within the city’s service delivery process. The city promises to restore power within 72 hours once the debt is acknowledged and paid.

However, the difference is that the scammers often contact residents via WhatsApp or phone calls, warning them that disconnection is just two hours away unless immediate payment is made. These fraudsters pose as municipal officials and, in many cases, demand that money be sent via e-wallet.

Shawe first became aware of the scam in November last year, when a handful of residents in Constantia Kloof reported suspicious encounters. He began investigating and quickly discovered that the same scam was happening in multiple parts of the country.

“They were using the same names, the same photographs, and even the same language,” he noted. “You’d think these scammers would evolve their tactics, but they haven’t had to — because it’s still working.”

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He urges all residents to remain vigilant and to never pay money to anyone claiming to be from the city via WhatsApp or phone. “If the city intends to cut off your electricity, they’ll do it. You’ll come home to find it off and a notice on your gate — they don’t call or text in advance.”

Shawe stated that if residents experience this situation, they must contact their ward councillor.

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