• Armed criminals opened fire on police and City Power security, forcing officers to retreat and damaging a SAPS vehicle during a violent gunbattle.

• City Power workers and contractors are under constant threat, with attacks now delaying urgent power infrastructure repairs in Johannesburg.
  

Armed criminals are targeting Johannesburg’s electricity workers and police, with City Power warning that the violent attacks are crippling power supply projects and endangering lives.

Police officers came under fire and had to retreat after suspects opened fire and damaged their vehicle. The same criminals had just robbed City Power staff working in the Cleveland policing area.

City Power general manager Isaac Mangena slammed the violence, calling it “barbaric” and accusing criminals of trying to sabotage the city’s essential infrastructure.

He said a contractor was ambushed by six gunmen while trenching under a bridge near Kwa MaiMai on Thursday, 10 April. The work was part of efforts to replace ageing infrastructure that has caused ongoing outages in the inner city.

“The robbery, carried out in broad daylight, is a disgraceful affront to the teams working to restore stable power supply for the benefit of Johannesburg’s residents,” Mangena said.

Just days before, on 7 April, criminals opened fire on police and security officers at the corner of Nicholson and Main Reef Road. The shootout forced a retreat and left a police vehicle damaged.

Mangena said the attackers are not just stealing cables or phones—”they are robbing communities of light, safety, and dignity.”

He said City Power has recorded four robberies and two shootouts since July last year, leaving teams traumatised and halting urgent upgrades.

In February, cable thieves fired at police near Fordsburg Substation after guards caught them with hacksaws in underground tunnels. The police ran out of ammunition and had to pull back to reload.

“These acts are nothing short of economic sabotage,” Mangena said. “They strike at the heart of Johannesburg’s operations and leave ordinary citizens in the dark.”

City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava echoed the outrage. “These criminals are attacking the very teams working to rebuild and stabilise our communities. It is cowardly, it is barbaric, and it must be stopped.”

Mashava called on Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and senior SAPS officials to step in. “We will not be bullied into silence or inaction. But we cannot win this battle alone. We need the full weight of the police ministry behind us,” she said.

The violence has spread across the city.

Recently, eight gunmen tried to steal cables from Klipfontein Substation in Midrand. They fired at security guards and ran off into the bush.

In Alexandra, three armed men attacked two female guards at the Security and Dispatch Centre. They stole belongings and one of the women had an asthma attack and had to be treated at a local Masakhane Clinic. Sandringham police are investigating.

Last week, dozens of City Power workers were fired, suspended or face criminal charges after a clean-up operation exposed a shocking inside job that left Joburg residents without power.

City Power has urged residents to report any suspicious activity near electricity sites. Anonymous tips can help stop future attacks. The City Power Security Hotline is 0800 002 587.

Image caption: Pictured above: Police and security forces are under fire while guarding City Power workers. Source: City Power