City Power is warning community members about a fraudulent SMS circulating and claiming to be linked to the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) programme.
According to a statement shared with the Roodepoort Record by City Power’s spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, the fraudulent message instructs recipients to dial a specific code to ‘collect’ an FBE voucher.
Mangena added that community members are warned that entering any codes received from suspicious messages may compromise their personal information and expose them to fraud.
“Our systems do not generate any SMS of this nature, and the City of Johannesburg Health and Social Development Department does not request approved customers to use USSD codes or external links to receive FBE benefits.
“Once applications are successfully processed and approved, customers receive their allocation automatically as part of their next prepaid electricity purchase slip, which will indicate that they are recipients of the benefit,” said Mangena, adding that scammers often target unsuspecting customers during the festive season, using programmes like FBE as a disguise to gain access to their details.
Ongoing FBE registrations
City Power would also like to remind community members about the ongoing registration process and also encourages those currently receiving FBE units to check and renew their benefits to ensure they remain active on the system, as renewals must be done every 12 months.
Under the FBE programme, qualifying individuals receive between 50kWh and up to 120kWh of free electricity per month, depending on household vulnerability.
The programme is targeted at pensioners, people with disabilities, child-headed households, unemployed individuals, women, and residents in informal settlements or high-density areas, and those earning R7 800 or less per month.
Disadvantaged community members are also exempt from the R70 service charge and R130 network capacity charge, saving R200 monthly.
The registration deadline is December 31, and community members are advised to visit the nearest City of Johannesburg regional offices with the following documents:
• a valid South African ID document
• City Power or Eskom prepaid meter, or conventional account number
• proof of income or a SASSA grant confirmation, or SASSA card, produce a bank statement for the latest three (3) months (all bank accounts must be declared) or an affidavit confirming no bank account and or other source of income (any other source of income must be declared)
• three months’ bank statements or an affidavit if unemployed
• proof of residence or a confirmation letter from a ward councillor
• City of Johannesburg Rates and Taxes Account (if applicable)
