Illegal power racket shut down

City Power has dismantled a lucrative illegal electricity operation in Tshepisong, Roodepoort, earlier in July.

According to City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena, the entity’s revenue protection unit, working with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), disabled an illegal electricity network run from a private property.

“Acting on a tip-off from a concerned resident, officials investigated and found the home was illegally feeding power to nearby households and a newly-established informal settlement via underground and overhead cables,” he says.

“Upon closer inspection, City Power technicians found that live supply lines had been tampered with and diverted from a municipal pillar, posing extreme danger to human life and infrastructure.”

The homeowner turned out to be running a backyard micro-utility operation, allegedly charging neighbouring residents for access to stolen electricity.

Mangena adds that the operation was shut down and about 250 kilograms of illegally connected wire were removed, though the suspect is still at large.

“Investigations are underway, and the matter will be escalated for prosecution.

“City Power views these incidents as symptomatic of the growing risks facing Johannesburg’s electricity grid, whether through violent obstruction of lawful disconnection efforts or profit-driven illegal distribution schemes.

“Such acts compromise the safety of personnel, overload the network, and deprive paying customers of a reliable supply.”

He adds that the entity applauds community members who report suspicious or unlawful activity and urges continued public cooperation in safeguarding the city’s electricity infrastructure.

“Any threats to technicians, tampering with infrastructure, or illegal connections will be met with zero tolerance. Our commitment to service delivery, revenue protection, and the safety of our personnel and infrastructure remains unwavering.”