City Power is facing serious allegations after a former employee claimed that three officials extorted him for at least R2.6 million since 2020. The whistleblower stated that the officials operated a criminal syndicate, manipulating tender processes and targeting successful bidders for extortion and threats.
City Power has acknowledged the extortion claims and is currently awaiting action from the Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS). Isaac Mangena, a spokesperson for City Power, emphasized, “We take this matter very seriously and have requested authorities at GFIS to look into it.” One of the implicated officials is on suspension, another has resigned, while the third remains in their position.
This incident comes at a time when City Power is already struggling with service delivery. In the first half of 2025, the utility recorded 1.29 million forced interruptions, with only 25% of outages restored within 1.5 hours in the first quarter. This figure dropped to just 19.2% in the second quarter, raising concerns among residents.
Additionally, Johannesburg Water has reported a significant increase in pipe bursts, dealing with 4,336 incidents monthly, compared to 2,960 in the previous financial year. This surge in infrastructure issues compounds the challenges faced by City Power as it grapples with both internal and external pressures.
The whistleblower, who has a long history with the alleged extorters, recounted a specific incident: “I said what do they need, they said they need R1 million. I said I don’t have R1 million, I can try R100,000.” This statement highlights the coercive tactics reportedly employed by the officials.
As the investigation unfolds, observers are keenly watching how City Power will address both the allegations of extortion and the ongoing service interruptions that have left many residents frustrated. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full scope of the investigation and any potential repercussions for the implicated officials.
