Johannesburg City Power said that substations in Roodepoort were at risk of collapsing due to illegal mining by zama zamas.
Residents were protesting in recent weeks, after being left in the dark on multiple occasions, accusing City Power of not helping them.
The utility, along with MMC for Infrastructure, Jack Sekwalia, visited Roodepoort on Thursday.
Some residents in the area said that they were fed up with being deserted by City Power for weeks on end.
After Thursday’s visit, the utility concluded that the supply issues were caused by zama zamas working in the area.
City Power’s Isaac Mangena said that the illegal miners were working right outside major substations.
“We are extremely concerned about the illegal mining practices. There’s a huge threat should the electricity infrastructure collapse or cave in.”
However, Roodepoort residents said the utility left them in the dark.
“I’ve stopped buying groceries,” said one resident.
“We have had no power for eight days,” another resident lamented.
Mangena said that they were assessing whether substations should be moved from these areas.
-EWN
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