JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — City Power has confirmed that planned electricity interruptions will roll out across multiple Johannesburg suburbs this week as the utility battles to stabilize its aging grid. Alongside the critical maintenance schedule, City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena highlighted a severe escalation in infrastructure vandalism and organized criminal syndicates stealing critical equipment.
Mangena clarified that the temporary shutdowns, which may last up to eight hours per area, are strictly for routine refurbishment. He stressed that the utility’s goal is to extend the operational lifespan of the network rather than impose load shedding or load reduction, a common misconception among frustrated residents. Comparing the grid to a personal vehicle, he noted that just as a car requires scheduled servicing to run smoothly, the city’s electrical infrastructure demands regular upkeep to prevent total system failure.
To mitigate the impact on the public, the utility issues advance warnings ranging from seven to 21 days before the work begins. Mangena noted that the scheduling is highly flexible; if a neighborhood recently experienced a prolonged fault, the routine work is actively delayed to avoid compounding the residents’ frustration. Furthermore, the utility collaborates with local councilors and community leaders to bypass dates with special local or holiday events. By executing the work during daylight hours, the utility ensures that small businesses, remote workers, schools, healthcare facilities, and police stations have the daylight needed to arrange backup power solutions.
Beyond grid stabilization, the utility is aggressively targeting revenue protection. Mangena drew a hard line against illegal connections, categorizing them as outright electricity theft and stating that the utility shows “no mercy” in these pursuits. He revealed that there are approximately 300 informal settlements across the metropolis where unauthorized connections are rampant. These setups typically occur when migrants seeking economic and educational opportunities establish informal communities before formal service delivery infrastructure is installed, leading to illegal bypasses at the tail end of the supply chain.
Unlike scheduled maintenance, crews do not issue warnings or make appointments when disconnecting illegal setups. Mangena pointed to a recent successful operation where authorities dismantled an organized criminal distribution network. During that raid, teams recovered 10 stolen transformers that had been illicitly taken from both City Power and Eskom.
Looking ahead, Mangena warned that the current peak winter season places immense strain on the grid, frequently resulting in severe network overloading. This surge in demand often triggers emergency maintenance interventions to prevent dangerous infrastructure failures. He assured the public that even in these urgent, unplanned scenarios, City Power remains committed to providing prompt communication so that residents and critical services can make the necessary arrangements before the power is switched off.