City Power has disconnected a total of seven hijacked buildings during its latest enforcement operation in the Johannesburg CBD.
The multi-agency operation, conducted in collaboration with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and other law enforcement authorities, took place on Thursday, 5 March 2026.
The operation commenced in Braamfontein, where a hijacked building was disconnected at Level 3. This is not the first time the property has been disconnected. It remains a serious concern that unlawful occupants have allegedly resorted to threats and intimidation to facilitate illegal reconnections by drawing electricity through an adjacent building that houses City Power infrastructure. Plans are now underway to reinforce and secure the entrance to the neighbouring property to prevent further unlawful access and possible illegal reconnections.
The second stop was in Hillbrow, where another Level 3 disconnection was implemented. The poorly maintained building is being used primarily for residential accommodation, while the basement operates as a car mechanical workshop, tyre fitment centre and tailor shop. Although residents claim to be paying for electricity, City Power’s records indicate that the account is in arrears of more than R12 million.
The third targeted property, located in Doornfontein, was also disconnected at Level 3. This property is a repeat offender and is currently in arrears of approximately R2.6 million.
The final four buildings were situated on the same street in Doornfontein. Three of these properties are severely dilapidated and in a critical state of disrepair. The fourth building was not initially listed for disconnection. However, during on-site investigations, teams discovered that the property had been illegally connected to the City Power network and it was subsequently disconnected.
Manoko Moyo, Manager for Planned Maintenance at the Inner City Service Delivery Centre (SDC), noted that all the buildings targeted during the operation have no known registered owners.
He emphasised that the enforcement drive is not solely focused on outstanding payments but also considersthe structural integrity of buildings, compliance with safety standards, and the overall condition of propertiesconnected to the electricity network.
“All the buildings that we attended to were poorly maintained. City Power has a responsibility to supply electricityonly to buildings and businesses that comply with municipal bylaws, safety standards and account paymentrequirements,” Moyo said.
City Power reiterates that these ongoing operations form part of broader efforts to address illegal connections,reduce non-technical losses and protect the safety, reliability and sustainability of electricity supply within theinner city.
Customers who may be experiencing financial difficulty are encouraged to approach City Power proactively tomake arrangements for the settlement of outstanding accounts. The utility offers Admission of Debt (AOD)arrangements to assist customers in managing their arrears through structured payment plans. Customers areencouraged to visit their nearest Service Delivery Centre (SDC) to engage with officials and conclude AODagreements in order to regularise their accounts and maintain a positive relationship with the utility while ensuringcontinued access to electricity services.
