‘Most Rabie Ridge residents don't pay for electricity’, says City power
The utility's spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the entity's network is strained because of this usage which causes power outages.
Protesters burned debris during a protest in Rabie Ridge on 20 March 2025. Picture: EWN
JOHANNESBURG - City power had said that 95% of Rabie Ridge residents in the north of Johannesburg are using electricity without paying for it.
The utility's spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the entity's network is strained because of this usage which causes power outages.
On Thursday, residents took to the streets in protest of the persisting power outages, with the most recent one being caused by broken infrastructure.
Mangena said the power has been restored however problems may persist because the infrastructure is old.
He added that they are losing money from supplying electricity to residents from informal settlements who are not paying- making it harder for them to repair infrastructure.
"Informal settlements are mushrooming, we are standing in front of another mushrooming informal settlement, two of them next to this BP garage so it means tomorrow you will just see lights coming up and that will be electricity that will be stolen," said Mangena.