City Power has raised concerns about copper cable theft, prepaid electricity meter delays and illegal connections affecting electricity services across Johannesburg. During its 10th Electricity Imbizo in Randburg on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, the utility addressed residents from Wards 98, 99, 102 and 104 about ongoing power interruptions, infrastructure repairs and a security breach involving prepaid electricity vouchers. The discussions highlighted challenges affecting households and businesses, while City Power provided updates on electricity infrastructure projects in Randburg, Ferndale, Bryanston and surrounding areas.
According to City Power, non-technical electricity losses account for approximately 20%, with illegal connections, electricity theft and unauthorised vending among the contributing factors.
The utility also confirmed that an investigation into irregular prepaid electricity vouchers has delayed certain meter conversions.
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Why Copper Cable Theft Remains a Problem for City Power
Copper cable theft continues to affect electricity infrastructure in Johannesburg, contributing to supply interruptions and placing additional pressure on the distribution network.
City Power Acting Chief Executive Officer Charles Tlouane raised concerns about the theft of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, particularly copper, during the Randburg meeting.
He said addressing infrastructure theft requires cooperation between law enforcement agencies, government departments, communities and businesses involved in the metal trading industry.
According to City Power, scrapyards operating outside regulatory requirements remain a concern.
Tlouane argued that weak oversight of the metal trading industry contributes to the theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure.
He called for greater attention to the market for stolen metals, including those purchasing and trading stolen materials.
For residents, cable theft remains a concern because damage to electricity infrastructure can interrupt supply and require repair work before services are restored.
City Power Reports 20% Non-Technical Electricity Losses
City Power also highlighted electricity losses linked to illegal activity across Johannesburg.
The utility identified electricity theft, illegal connections and unauthorised electricity vending among the causes of these losses.
Tlouane referred to Johannesburg’s approximately 400 informal settlements when discussing the scale of illegal electricity activity affecting the network.
However, the utility also acknowledged that ageing electricity infrastructure contributes to faults and losses.
“The ageing electricity infrastructure is also susceptible to leakages and faults, which lead to losses,” he explained.
These challenges form part of the utility’s broader efforts to protect electricity revenue while maintaining its distribution infrastructure.
Why Prepaid Meter Conversions Are Delayed
Residents waiting to convert between prepaid and postpaid electricity meters may continue to experience delays while City Power investigates irregularities in its metering system.
The utility suspended certain meter conversions in 2025 to conduct system audits and address problems involving electricity consumption and vending records.
City Power Chief Commercial Officer Thamsanqa Mathiso explained that the clean-up process uncovered a security breach involving so-called ghost vouchers.
The discovery prompted further investigation into the prepaid electricity system.
Stand-by-stand audits formed part of the process used to identify irregularities.
The utility said the findings supported its decision to suspend conversions while the investigation continued.
What Are Ghost Electricity Vouchers?
City Power has identified ghost vouchers as part of a security breach affecting its prepaid electricity vending system.
The investigation concerns irregular electricity vending and consumption that may not be properly accounted for.
The utility also raised concerns about residential electricity meters that were not recording electricity purchases.
These cases prompted questions about possible meter tampering, bypassing and unaccounted-for electricity consumption.
When Will City Power Resume Meter Conversions?
City Power initially expected its investigation into prepaid electricity irregularities to be completed by June 2026.
However, the process has taken longer than anticipated.
Mathiso confirmed that the utility has sourced an external service provider to assist with the investigation.
The additional investigation has affected the timeline for resolving the suspended meter conversions.
City Power has not announced a confirmed date for the completion of the investigation or the full resumption of affected conversions.
Residents awaiting changes to their electricity billing arrangements will therefore need further communication from the utility.
Electricity Infrastructure Upgrades in Randburg, Ferndale and Bryanston
Alongside the challenges involving electricity theft and prepaid meters, City Power provided updates on infrastructure projects across the Randburg Service Delivery Centre.
The work includes feeder cable replacements, underground cable improvements and medium-voltage infrastructure projects.
Bryanston Extension 3
City Power reported that approximately 1,600 metres of feeder cable had been replaced in Bryanston Extension 3.
The replacement forms part of the utility’s ongoing electricity infrastructure work in the area.
Fontainebleau
The Fontainebleau underground cable project had reached 98% completion at the time of the Randburg imbizo.
The utility did not provide a confirmed date for the completion of the remaining work.
Ferndale
City Power reported that crews were replacing approximately 600 metres of feeder cable in Ferndale.
The work forms part of infrastructure improvements being carried out across the Randburg electricity network.
Randburg Medium-Voltage Projects
Across the Randburg Service Delivery Centre, City Power reported that its medium-voltage projects had reached 82% overall progress.
The figure reflects the combined progress of the projects discussed at the meeting rather than confirmation that all electricity infrastructure problems have been resolved.
Public Lighting Repairs Across Randburg
City Power also provided progress updates on public lighting work in several Randburg neighbourhoods.
| Area | Reported Progress |
|---|---|
| Randpark | 85% |
| Ferndale | 84% |
| Bryanbrink and Daniel Brink | 85% |
The updates indicate that public lighting projects remain under way.
However, the utility did not provide confirmed completion dates for the outstanding work.
Residents in these areas will need to monitor further announcements for updates on the remaining repairs and installations.
What This Means for Gauteng Residents
The challenges identified by City Power affect residents who depend on reliable electricity for their homes, workplaces and businesses.
Copper cable theft, illegal connections and ageing infrastructure remain concerns because they can contribute to electricity interruptions and additional maintenance requirements.
For customers awaiting prepaid or postpaid meter conversions, the investigation into ghost vouchers means the affected processes have not yet returned to normal.
Residents in Randburg, Ferndale, Bryanston and Fontainebleau have also received updated information about infrastructure projects taking place in their communities.
Although City Power has reported progress on cable replacements and public lighting improvements, the figures do not establish when all outstanding electricity problems will be resolved.
The Randburg Electricity Imbizo also provided residents with an opportunity to raise concerns about frequent outages, repair quality and electricity costs directly with the utility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are City Power Prepaid Meter Conversions Delayed?
City Power suspended certain prepaid and postpaid meter conversions in 2025 while investigating irregularities in its electricity vending and metering systems. The investigation remains ongoing.
What Are Ghost Vouchers in City Power’s Electricity System?
Ghost vouchers are irregularities identified during an investigation into City Power’s prepaid electricity vending system. The utility has confirmed a security breach but has not provided a complete public explanation of how the irregularities operated.
How Much Electricity Is City Power Losing?
City Power Acting CEO Charles Tlouane reported that non-technical electricity losses were approximately 20% at the time of the November 2026 Randburg imbizo.
Which Randburg Areas Are Receiving Electricity Upgrades?
City Power reported infrastructure work in Bryanston Extension 3, Fontainebleau and Ferndale, alongside public lighting improvements in Randpark, Ferndale, Bryanbrink and Daniel Brink.
When Will City Power Complete the Randburg Upgrades?
City Power reported progress on several projects but did not provide confirmed completion dates for all outstanding work.
How to Stay Informed About City Power Electricity Updates
Residents affected by electricity interruptions, meter conversion delays or infrastructure work should follow official City Power communications for developments affecting their areas.
The utility’s updates remain particularly important for customers awaiting the outcome of the prepaid electricity investigation and those living in neighbourhoods where cable replacement projects are continuing.
Residents should also distinguish between reported project progress and confirmed completion dates when planning around possible electricity disruptions.
City Power has outlined the challenges affecting its network and the work taking place across Randburg. Further updates will be needed to establish when outstanding infrastructure projects and affected meter conversion processes will be completed.
