Lenasia Faces Darkness: City Power Shuts Off Electricity Amid Unpaid Bills
- Lenasia residents endured a chilly and pitch-black weekend after City Power disconnected their electricity due to unpaid bills.
- The utility company cut off power because of an accumulated debt exceeding R24 million, leaving many households in the cold.
- South Africans took to social media, criticizing City Power for its decision to deprive residents of electricity during one of the coldest weekends of the year.
Tebogo Mokwena, a seasoned journalist with Briefly News, has been covering current affairs for over seven years. His expertise spans food, energy, loadshedding, fuel prices, and environmental issues, previously working at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.
LENASIA, JOHANNESBURG — City Power is on a relentless mission to recover R1 billion in unpaid revenue, and unfortunately for Lenasia residents, they found themselves at the center of this financial crackdown. The utility provider has been cracking down on defaulting customers across Johannesburg, with Lenasia being one of the latest communities to face the brunt of these actions.
Lenasia Plunged Into Darkness
As reported by IOL, City Power made the controversial decision to disconnect Lenasia's electricity on September 19. This move came as part of the utility's ongoing effort to address the staggering R9.8 billion owed by defaulting customers throughout Johannesburg. Lenasia residents alone account for a substantial R800 million of this debt. Among those affected are large electricity consumers like the Reef Hotel, which also owes City Power a significant sum.
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Other high-power users impacted by the disconnection include a Cash-and-Carry in Klipriviersoog, which owes over R3 million, a medical center in Kliptown saddled with an R1.8 million unpaid bill, and a sweet factory in Nancefield. These businesses, along with countless households, were left without power during one of the coldest weekends of the year.
Public Outcry Against City Power
The decision to cut off electricity sparked outrage among South Africans, particularly on platforms like Facebook. Many expressed frustration over the timing of the disconnection, which coincided with a bitterly cold weekend that saw snowfall in various parts of the country. Social media was ablaze with comments criticizing City Power's actions.
Selvin Pillay voiced his concerns, saying:
"Timing is cruel. It's a very cold week."
Jacques Tellis questioned the legality of the disconnection:
"What's going on here? This is not right. Does the municipality have a court order? If not, then they are not allowed to cut any electricity."
Sue Lane highlighted the affordability issue, stating:
"Electricity is not affordable!"
RSA Citizen added a sarcastic remark:
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"They still haven't found the cut-off switch for Soweto."
Bob Naidoo weighed in, suggesting:
"They can cut off electricity to private households."
Joburg Residents React to R200 Prepaid Electricity Surcharge
In a separate but related development, Briefly News reported on the recent approval of a R200 surcharge fee for prepaid electricity users by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa. This additional fee has further angered South Africans, who already face numerous challenges with rising electricity costs. The move has been widely criticized as unfair, adding to the growing dissatisfaction with City Power's policies.
City Power's decision to impose this surcharge comes at a time when many households are struggling to make ends meet. For prepaid electricity users, the added expense is seen as another financial burden in an already challenging economic climate. Residents of Johannesburg and beyond are calling for transparency and accountability from the utility company, demanding answers on how the revenue will be used and why such measures are necessary.
