City Power has pledged to continue its investigation into the alarming incidents of electric shocks reported at the Villa Devine complex in North Riding.
The utility says it will not rest until the root cause is identified and a permanent solution is implemented to ensure the safety of residents.
Isaac Mangena, spokesperson for City Power, said the ongoing investigations are part of a broader effort to eliminate the hazard and protect the community.
“It’s not clear at this stage how long this process will last, but we wish to urge residents to remain vigilant at this point and be extra cautious, particularly those residing in the few units where the electric shocks have been identified.”

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Residents in affected units are advised to avoid touching metal fittings with bare feet or wet hands and to keep children and vulnerable individuals away from any surfaces known to deliver electric shocks until the issue is resolved.
Mangena explained that electric shocks from taps or other water-related fixtures are typically caused by faults in the electrical earthing system. These faults may involve a broken earth connection or a malfunction in the neutral conductor, which allows stray voltage to transfer to metallic components such as taps, pipes, or burglar bars.
“Other various factors can cause these incidents, including environmental conditions. The most common causes are cable theft, vandalism, and tampering with our infrastructure. When cables are stolen or transformers and junction boxes are vandalised, it often leads to faulty electrical connections and improper earthing.”

He added that without a proper path for electricity to discharge safely into the ground, stray current can travel through conductive materials like water pipes or metal structures, effectively turning them into live wires.
“This is a common and extremely dangerous side effect of vandalism and tampering. It has also come to our attention that some residents, including those living in complexes, unlawfully conduct repairs on our network, which also contributes to the challenge of electric shocks. Additionally, in residential complexes, poor internal wiring or a lack of bonding between water pipes and the earth system can also contribute to such hazards.”

City Power is urging residents to have their internal wiring inspected regularly by qualified electricians. The utility also issued a strong warning against hiring unauthorised technicians, tampering with meters, and making illegal connections to the network.
“Such actions are not only unsafe but also illegal and can lead to serious consequences. Our teams are currently working on resolving the issue at the Villa Devine complex.”

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