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Tshwane mayor in hot water over incorrect prison power cut claim
When City of Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya announced on social media that electricity would be cut to the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre, the message landed hard. For many South Africans, the idea of a major prison going dark felt reckless, especially given the city’s recent history of high-profile power cutoffs.
But within days, the situation unravelled.
What actually happened at Kgosi Mampuru
According to the Department of Correctional Services, city officials arrived at the prison with an account statement that turned out to be wrong. No electricity was disconnected. Once the error was pointed out, municipal staff withdrew from the site.
Department spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo did not mince words. He described the incident as disturbing and humiliating, particularly because the announcement was made publicly before the facts were verified. For a facility tied directly to public safety and national security, the department said this kind of misstep was unacceptable.
The department has since called on the mayor to correct the record publicly and to apologise for spreading misinformation.
A campaign already under scrutiny
The episode has reignited debate around the city’s Tshwane Ya Tima campaign, a credit control drive aimed at recovering unpaid electricity bills. While the principle of enforcing payment is not new, the execution has been controversial.
Last year, the campaign made headlines after electricity was cut to police stations and Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital. Each incident fuelled public concern about whether essential services were being placed at risk in the name of debt collection.
On social media, the reaction to the Kgosi Mampuru announcement was swift. Many users questioned why disputes over billing were being handled through public posts rather than closed-door negotiations between departments. Others warned that the city’s approach was damaging trust rather than restoring it.
City says the aim is not embarrassment
City officials insist the campaign is being misunderstood. MMC for human settlements, Aaron Maluleka, said Tshwane Ya Tima is not about shaming government departments but about fixing a serious financial problem.
The municipality claims it is owed around R2 billion by national and provincial departments. Maluleka said visits to institutions such as the Sita offices, the SAPS College in Pretoria West, the Department of Labour, and Kgosi Mampuru itself resulted in acknowledgements of debt and commitments to pay.
He has urged other departments to engage directly with the city to settle what they owe.
Political pressure and growing unease
DA mayoral candidate for Tshwane, Cilliers Brink, has backed the idea of enforcing proper credit control but criticised how the city is handling it. In his view, the campaign’s public relations fallout is undoing any good intentions behind it.
His advice is simple. Resolve disputes through direct engagement between ministers, municipal managers, and directors general instead of public standoffs that make the city look disorganised.
Why this moment matters
At a time when residents are already frustrated by service delivery failures and billing disputes, the Kgosi Mampuru incident has struck a nerve. It raises uncomfortable questions about verification, communication, and accountability in local government.
For many in Tshwane, the issue is no longer just about unpaid electricity bills. It is about whether the city can enforce its policies without undermining essential services or public confidence.
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: Vijesti
