JOHANNESBURG – Johannesburg electricity utility City Power has issued a stern warning to the public against climbing electrical infrastructure and conducting illegal power connections, following the arrest of two individuals—one of whom is reportedly a City Power employee—caught on video engaging in power theft.
A viral video, which circulated widely on social media this week, shows two men perched at the top of a City Power electrical pole in what appears to be an attempt to make an unlawful electricity connection. Authorities acted swiftly after the footage emerged, leading to the arrest of both suspects.
One of the individuals apprehended is believed to be a current employee of City Power, prompting serious concerns about internal collusion and corruption within the utility’s operations.
City Power Employee Caught in the Act
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena confirmed that one of the suspects arrested is indeed employed by the entity, and that disciplinary measures are being prepared.
“We don’t want people that are supposed to work for the community but instead choose to work against the community,” said Mangena. “They’re working against City Power, and they’re essentially stealing from the very organization that pays them.”
Mangena emphasized that this type of behavior not only endangers the lives of those involved but also places an enormous financial burden on City Power and its ability to deliver reliable electricity to law-abiding residents.
According to Mangena, this is not an isolated incident. City Power has observed a concerning increase in the involvement of its own employees in acts of vandalism, illegal connections, and theft.
“We have, in the past, acknowledged that some of our staff members may be involved in the vandalism and theft that occurs in townships and across the City of Johannesburg,” Mangena explained. “This type of conduct compromises our infrastructure and drains resources that should be used to improve service delivery.”
City Power is expected to initiate an internal disciplinary process against the employee involved. In addition, the case has been handed over to law enforcement agencies for criminal prosecution.
Illegal electricity connections are a major safety hazard. Individuals who attempt to bypass legal power systems often do so without proper training, using makeshift materials and unsafe methods. This poses a serious risk of electrocution, fires, and long-term damage to power infrastructure.
Mangena reiterated the dangers involved:
“Climbing electric towers and tampering with live wires is a deadly activity. Not only are you risking your life, but you are also endangering entire communities when these illegal connections lead to fires or overloads.”
He urged community members to report suspicious activity and to never attempt to make their own power connections under any circumstances.
City Power has long struggled with the financial and operational impact of electricity theft. Illegal connections contribute to frequent power outages, infrastructure damage, and rising maintenance costs—all of which hurt law-abiding residents who rely on stable power delivery.
In many townships and informal settlements, transformers frequently blow due to overloaded systems caused by illegal hookups. City Power often has to replace or repair these units at great expense.
“Every illegal connection is not just a theft from City Power, but a theft from the community,” said Mangena. “These acts rob communities of reliable service and strain our infrastructure to breaking point.”
City Power has intensified its efforts to combat electricity theft and internal corruption. The utility regularly conducts joint operations with Johannesburg Metro Police and other law enforcement agencies to disconnect illegal connections and apprehend those responsible.
In recent months, several arrests have been made, and City Power says it will continue to pursue legal action against both community members and employees found to be involved.
“We are determined to clean up our internal structures and restore integrity to our operations,” said Mangena. “Whether it’s members of the public or our own staff, anyone caught engaging in criminal behavior will face consequences.”
City Power is calling on residents to be vigilant and to report any suspicious behavior near electrical infrastructure. The utility has established a dedicated hotline and encourages anonymous tips to help identify and stop illegal activities.
“The community is our first line of defense,” Mangena stated. “We cannot fight this problem alone. We need residents to be our eyes and ears on the ground.”
As City Power works to strengthen its systems and root out corruption, the utility is making it clear: electricity theft is not just illegal—it’s dangerous and unsustainable. The recent arrests are a stark reminder that no one, not even employees of the utility, is above the law.
Source- EWN
