'Crime is going to get worse': Joburg residents bemoan City Power disconnections
Hundreds of families at the Octavia Hill flats in the inner city have been left in darkness after the power utility cut off their supply due to non-payment.
City Power embarked on an electricity disconnection drive in some buildings in Johannesburg that owe the utility millions of rands. Picture: Jacques Nelles / Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Some frustrated Johannesburg residents claim City Power is treating them like animals. Their homes were disconnected from the electricity supply on Thursday.
Hundreds of families at the Octavia Hill flats in the inner city have been left in darkness after the power utility cut off their supply due to non-payment.
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The government-owned block of flats owes City Power more than R12 million, having defaulted on payments for years.
What started as a regular day for the residents of Octavia Hill flats quickly turned into one of concern, as they found themselves in the dark after City Power disconnected their electricity.
A resident said they were frequently robbed in and around their block of flats and suggested crime would likely escalate without electricity.
“It will be worse. There are children who go to school and crèche. So, without electricity, it will be worse.”
Another resident has echoed his sentiments.
“The crime is going to get worse. We often get mugged here. Imagine what will happen now that it’s dark.”
But City Power said while it sympathised with the affected people, it could no longer allow non-paying residents to continue defaulting on their payments.