CoJ targets defaulting businesses in CBD electricity cut-off operation

The City of Johannesburg is leading an electricity cut-off operation in the CBD, targeting commercial establishments that have defaulted on their power bills.

One of the affected businesses is Oasis Liquor Store, which the city said has been in arrears on its electricity payments since 2013.

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero said that the city’s assessment shows that the liquor store owes more than R1 million to City Power.

On top of failing to pay the City of Johannesburg for electricity for the past 12 years, the metro said Oasis Liquor Store in Newtown is also illegally connected to the power supply.

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When City Power officials raided the establishment, they switched off the circuit breaker, which is supposed to cut the flow of electricity, but the lights remained on.

Morero said that this confirms that the liquor store is illegally connected and that consequences must follow.

“We will be closing the shop with immediate effect, and we will also be cutting off the supply to of electricity.”

The City of Johannesburg has come under fire over poor revenue collection, with both residential and commercial customers owing the metro billions of rands.