Johannesburg’s power utility has taken decisive action against a prominent private school over a multimillion-rand unpaid electricity bill, cutting off power as part of an intensified campaign against major debtors.
City Power Disconnects Curro School Over Mounting Debt
A Curro school located in Noordwyk has had its electricity supply disconnected after allegedly failing to settle an outstanding account of R9.3 million.
The move was confirmed by City Power on Tuesday, with officials describing it as part of a wider operation targeting large customers who have fallen significantly behind on payments.
The school was among four properties singled out during the latest enforcement drive, with the combined debt owed by the affected entities reaching R38.1 million.
Debt Recovery Efforts Stretch Back Years
According to City Power, the outstanding amounts linked to the targeted properties range between R5 million and R13 million.
The utility claims the debts have been accumulating since 2023 despite repeated attempts to engage with account holders and recover the money owed.
Officials said several interventions had been undertaken before the decision was made to disconnect electricity services.
Utility Says Disconnection Was a Last Resort
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the utility had exhausted other avenues before resorting to cutting the school’s electricity supply.
He explained that prolonged failure to address the outstanding account left the utility with little choice, adding that continued non-payment places additional pressure on City Power’s finances and its ability to operate effectively.
Mangena stressed that unpaid accounts weaken the utility’s capacity to maintain infrastructure, respond to network faults and invest in long-term improvements that benefit paying customers.
Concerns Raised Over Impact on Electricity Network
City Power has argued that large unpaid accounts have consequences beyond the individual debtor.
The utility warned that when major institutions fail to meet their financial obligations, the burden increasingly shifts to customers who pay their bills on time.
Mangena said growing debt levels limit resources available for repairing infrastructure, reducing outages and strengthening the city’s electricity distribution system.
He also cautioned that persistent non-payment by commercial users and large organisations threatens the utility’s operational stability and complicates efforts to sustain service delivery.
Acting CEO Questions Size of Outstanding Balance
City Power acting chief executive Charles Tlouane expressed concern over the scale of the debt linked to the private school.
He noted that institutions within the private education sector are generally viewed as financially stable and said it was surprising to see such a substantial amount accumulate.
Tlouane warned that debts of this nature place added strain on the utility’s ability to maintain and upgrade essential infrastructure across Johannesburg.
School Yet to Respond
At the time of publication, Curro had not publicly responded to the allegations regarding the outstanding electricity account or the decision to disconnect power at the Noordwyk campus.
The disconnection forms part of City Power’s ongoing efforts to improve revenue collection and tackle large-scale non-payment among businesses and institutions across the city.
