Johannesburg Businessman Arrested for Allegedly Possessing Stolen City Power Mini-Substation Missing for a Decade
A Johannesburg businessman has been apprehended for allegedly possessing a City Power-owned 11KV mini-substation that went missing from the utility’s Booysens premises a decade ago.
City Power officials made the discovery during a revenue collection drive in Lenasia, where the stolen mini-substation was found connected in the businessman’s residential premises. City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena stated, “The utility’s records show that at the time, four mini-substations were procured; however, one disappeared without a trace.”
The missing mini-substation was located at the businessman’s premises after a neighboring business requested connection to the grid through the same equipment. The estimated cost of a similar mini-substation is R400,000, and an additional 1km-long cable found on the premises is valued at approximately R900,000.
While the electricity infrastructure was not registered on City Power’s system, the connection had been made on its network. City Power has disconnected and repossessed the mini-substation.
City Power’s Lenasia Service Delivery Centre was owed R1.4 billion by businesses in its service areas. Mangena urged businesses to approach City Power for service agreements, expressing concern about illegal meters, tampering, bypassing of meters, and illegal connections.
During the operation, Hyundai Lenasia and a block of flats in Ennerdale, both in arrears, were disconnected. The businessman faces charges of theft and tampering with electricity infrastructure, and City Power emphasized the need for residents and businesses to arrange payment plans if in arrears.
The Gauteng SAPS is yet to provide an official comment on the matter. In a separate incident in Midrand, City Power disconnected numerous non-paying business and residential customers owing over R50 million in electricity bills, underscoring their commitment to address illegal connections and ensure revenue collection.
