City Power carried out a meter audit on West Street in Ferndale as part of the City of Johannesburg’s high impact service delivery programme, uncovering an illegal electricity connection in the process.

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The operation formed part of a broader multi-departmental initiative led by the mayor’s office. The city’s citizen relationship and urban management (Crum) department spearheaded the programme, with various city departments participating alongside City Power.

City Power embarked on the West Street audit after residents reported repeated power outages in the area over recent weeks. “During the operation, our technicians found one residential property illegally connected to an overhead line pole,” said Isaac Mangena, general manager of public relations and communication at City Power.

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In response, the utility acted swiftly. “Our team from the revenue protection department implemented a level 3 disconnection to the property.”

Mangena explained that a level 3 disconnection is the most severe enforcement action available, involving the permanent removal of electrical infrastructure, such as meters, cables, and conductors. It applies to chronic debtors or those who tamper with previous cut-offs. Restoring power can cost the property owner upwards of R30 000. Mangena confirmed that efforts to trace the property owner were underway.

On the broader programme, Mangena described it as a back-to-basics initiative. “The City of Johannesburg’s high-impact service delivery operation is a multi-departmental, accelerated initiative led by the mayor and city officials to rapidly address infrastructure decay, illegal activity, and service failures across the city’s seven regions.” He added that it tackles issues ranging from illegal connections to pothole repairs and by-law enforcement.

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