Tensions Rise as City Power Cuts Off Electricity to Alexandra’s Riverpark Community

A storm is brewing in Alexandra’s Riverpark community. City Power, Johannesburg’s electricity supplier, has cut off all power to the area, blaming clashes with residents during an operation to audit meters and disconnect illegal connections.

The decision left hundreds in the dark and has sparked a heated back-and-forth between City Power and the people of Riverpark, who say they were blindsided by the move.

Why City Power pulled the plug

City Power says the action didn’t come out of nowhere. According to the utility, their technicians were met with resistance when they entered Riverpark to investigate suspected illegal connections and tampered meters. They targeted 470 households with no recent electricity purchases, and another 367 with unusually low usage — both signs, they say, of potential tampering.

“This wasn’t the first time we warned them,” said spokesperson Isaac Mangena. “We’ve tried to resolve this through discussions and warnings. But when our teams arrived, the situation turned hostile. Roads were blocked, and our workers were threatened and nearly held hostage.”

Faced with what it describes as ongoing defiance, City Power says it had no choice but to disconnect the area entirely.

Residents say the utility is out of line

But the people of Riverpark are pushing back. On Wednesday, frustrated residents took their anger to City Power’s Bramley offices, demanding to be heard.

Community spokesperson George Moloi painted a very different picture of the events. “Nobody was violent. There was no vandalism. We stood outside the gate, peacefully chanting. No one burned anything, no tyres, nothing like that. We just want to be treated with respect.”

Moloi insists that residents weren’t given any real warning and that the sweeping disconnection has unfairly punished many law-abiding households.

This situation highlights more than just a disagreement over bills. It speaks to the growing strain between communities and the city’s utility services. With many areas battling high unemployment and inconsistent service delivery, tensions can quickly flare when actions like mass disconnections happen without clear communication or proper consultation.

City Power argues it’s trying to recover revenue and curb electricity theft. Riverpark residents argue they’re being painted with the same brush and left to suffer in the dark quite literally.

What’s next?

For now, the lights remain off in Riverpark. The community is demanding engagement, not confrontation. Meanwhile, City Power insists that future operations will continue unless illegal usage stops and residents come to the table.

But unless both sides find a way to talk and listen this standoff could become the latest flashpoint in the country’s increasingly strained power dynamics.

As electricity becomes more essential and more expensive fair access and accountability need to be at the heart of every decision. If you’re affected or want to support the community, now’s the time to raise your voice. Push for dialogue, demand transparency, and make sure no one is left in the dark when it comes to their basic rights.

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Sourced:EWN

Picture: X/@CityPowerJhb