Police Stations Left in the Dark as Tshwane Cuts Power Over Unpaid Bills

A storm of criticism has erupted after the City of Tshwane pulled the plug on three police stations this week, Moot, Garsfontein, and Mamelodi East, as part of its aggressive #TshwaneYaTima credit control campaign.

While SAPS Moot sat powerless until Wednesday night, Garsfontein managed with a generator and Mamelodi East switched to solar. But the optics of police stations losing power amid ongoing violent crime in Gauteng has sparked public outrage and political finger-pointing.

“Power was restored to the Moot police station late on Wednesday,” confirmed SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili. She noted that police management is now working with the Department of Public Works to resolve the matter and ensure operational continuity.

A City in Financial Trouble and a Credibility Crisis

This isn’t the first time the city has made controversial cuts. In June, the City disconnected Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital over R1.2 million in overdue payments, drawing backlash from human rights advocates and health professionals.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) now claims the city’s enforcement of its credit control policy is deeply flawed and politically motivated.

DA Tshwane caucus spokesperson Jacqui Uys accused the city of “bias,” saying public institutions like police stations are being used as scapegoats, while businesses with alleged ties to city leaders remain untouched.

“The ANC’s patronage networks and the deputy mayor’s pocket are benefiting while communities suffer,” Uys said.

The Mzansi Resorts Controversy

Central to the controversy is Deputy Mayor and MMC for Finance Eugene Modise, whose alleged ties to a company called Mzansi Resorts, which reportedly owes the city over R20 million—have ignited further criticism.

Uys alleged the city’s treatment of SAPS Moot stands in stark contrast to its leniency toward Mzansi Resorts.

But Modise denied everything:
“Mzansi is not indebted to the City of Tshwane and does not hold a municipal account,” he stated. “If the DA believes otherwise, they should produce verifiable proof.”

Instead of fanning flames, Modise called on the opposition to “acknowledge the strides we’ve made in revenue collection.” He said campaigns like Tshwane Ya Tima are necessary to restore financial health to the metro.

“No Pay, No Power” Marches On

Despite the political noise, the city isn’t slowing down. On Thursday, it disconnected power to the Southern Sun Arcadia Hotel over R12 million in unpaid bills. A separate case involving Shoprite ended with a R600,000 settlement just minutes before the city planned to pull the plug.

“Accountability is not optional. Responsibility isn’t a favour, it’s a duty,” Modise said in defence of the campaign.

A Fair Crackdown, or Targeted Punishment?

As Tshwane’s revenue team intensifies its drive, critics argue that essential services shouldn’t be casualties of a policy that appears unevenly applied.

With violent crime, load shedding, and mistrust in government already weighing on the public, the power cut to SAPS stations has lit a fuse of political tension in the capital and the backlash is just getting started.

{Source: The Citizen}

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