CITY Power called off their operation to disconnect illegal connections in hijacked buildings in Joburg.
Reporters had to run for their lives, dodging stones and pepper sprays from angry residents.
This arose after a commotion between residents and the City Power workers on Wednesday, 13 September.
The situation turned violent as City Power technicians were threatened while reporters were pepper sprayed.
The residents in the alleged hijacked building in Betty Street, Joburg, said they are paying rent and, therefore, do not understand why the electricity supply must be cut off.
“We pay rent here. I pay R 2 800 for two bedrooms. We are surprised that they say we are not paying for electricity. We are also surprised that the apartment is not being renovated. When we go to court, we are told that the owner of the building is unknown,” said an angry resident.
She said that they have an agent to whom they are paying rent to.
Some residents said that they were not aware that the building was hijacked.
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City Power Inner City general manager, Arsenio Cossa, said the issue of the inner city and non-payment in the buildings was serious.
“All the buildings that we have identified, we have issued a notice notifying them that they are not paying, and we would like them to pay, or we will disconnect them from our services,” said Cossa.
City Power spokesman Isaac Mangena apologised for the treatment reporters received from residents.
"We would like to apologise even for the way we left the scene. It was starting to be volatile, and the police decided to pull out without ensuring that most of you were safe. We will talk to them about that,” he said.
City Power security risk management's Sergeant Thela said they realised the situation was escalating, and as part of their security principles, they had to call off the operation.
Thela said that he saw that the situation would result in injuries and maybe some fatalities.
“In the space of a week, we will be coming back. We will be cutting off that illegal connection," he said.
