City Power bosses accused of R2m extortion and death threats in Johannesburg

Contractor claims senior officials demanded millions after contract award

Fresh controversy has erupted around Johannesburg’s power utility after a contractor accused senior City Power officials of trying to extort R2 million from him and allegedly threatening his life when he refused.

The claims, now the subject of criminal charges, add to the growing pressure on City Power, an entity already battling public distrust over outages, billing complaints and past procurement investigations.

According to a police statement seen by local media, contractor Thembinkosi Mazanga alleges that two senior managers targeted him after he secured an infrastructure repair contract in November last year.

Instead of celebrating a business win, Mazanga says he found himself facing demands for cash and terrifying threats involving his family.

Claims of intimidation and threats

Mazanga alleges that after refusing to pay, he was warned that damaging stories would be published about him if he did not cooperate.

Even more seriously, he claims threats were made involving hitmen and the kidnapping of his children.

He also says suspicious vehicles have followed him and that one of the accused officials visited his business premises, taking photographs without permission.

Those allegations have not been tested in court, but they paint a troubling picture of fear and intimidation around public contracts an issue South Africans know all too well.

City Power confirms complaint

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena confirmed that the utility is aware of the accusations and says internal processes are under way.

According to the utility:

• One of the employees named in the complaint has already been dismissed.
• Another manager is currently suspended in connection with a separate but similar matter.
• Group Forensics and Investigation Services has been asked to investigate.
• City Power says it will take disciplinary action if wrongdoing is confirmed.

That response may offer some reassurance, but many Johannesburg residents are likely to ask why serious allegations appear only after complaints become public.

Why this story matters beyond one case

For many people in Johannesburg, City Power is more than a utility it is a daily source of frustration and dependence. Residents rely on it for stable electricity, quick fault repairs and fair billing.

When corruption claims emerge, they hit a nerve because they suggest money and energy are being diverted away from service delivery.

This latest controversy follows a police raid on the utility last year linked to suspected procurement irregularities. Investigators reportedly seized computers as part of a probe into contracts and payments for work allegedly not completed.

The utility has also faced disputes over high electricity bills, including a row involving a bargaining council whose account reportedly surged above R200,000 a month.

Public reaction likely to be fierce

On social media, stories involving City Power often trigger immediate anger from residents who feel they pay more while receiving less.

Many users are likely to see these allegations as part of a wider pattern affecting local government institutions across South Africa: allegations surface, investigations begin, but accountability can take years.

Others will argue that accusations must still be tested properly and that due process matters.

Both views reflect a country increasingly impatient with scandal but still demanding fairness.

Bigger questions for Johannesburg

This case is about more than one contractor and two managers. It raises uncomfortable questions:

• How secure is the tender process?
• Are whistleblowers protected?
• Can municipal entities police themselves effectively?
• How much corruption is never reported because people are too afraid?

Until those questions are answered, trust in City Power may remain as unstable as the grid it manages.

What happens next?

Police investigations and internal probes are expected to continue. If evidence supports the allegations, criminal charges and further disciplinary action could follow.

For now, Johannesburg residents are watching closely. In a city where electricity is essential and confidence in institutions is fragile, every new scandal carries consequences far beyond the boardroom.

{Source: Times Live}

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