According to a letter seen by the publication, City Power owed more than R4.1 million on its small power user (SPU) accounts, which are used to pay for public street lights in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite making up just a fraction of the city’s total bulk electricity debt of more than R5 billion, Eskom allegedly began disconnecting portions of some streets to try to evoke a response from the utility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cutoffs occurred before electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa brokered a mysterious agreement between the entities, preventing further widespread power interruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MyBroadband asked Eskom for comment to verify the claims, but it did not provide feedback by the time of publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of our unanswered questions was whether Eskom considered the safety implications that such a move could have, particularly given the importance of lighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Private security providers like Fidelity, ADT, and Bull Security have frequently emphasised how lighting can be a major deterrent for nighttime crime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent feedback to MyBroadband, Duvenage concurred, stating there was no doubt that visibility from street lighting created safer and more secure environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This is also backed by research where reviews show that street lighting interventions are associated with a significant desirable effect on crime and the safety of pedestrians,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The consensus is that the more lit-up neighbourhoods are, the safer they are from criminal elements.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Duvenage said switching off streetlights could be construed as Eskom having less regard for public safety and security, particularly considering the SPU debt was just a small percentage of the total debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Duvenage said an alternative option for Eskom would have been to turn off the lights to the metro’s offices or buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Duvenage guessed that it could have had an even larger negative impact on the city’s service delivery, which was already struggling to serve its residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OUTA wants details of the Eskom-Joburg agreement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Wayne-Duvenage-new1600-1200x675.jpg\")
Wayne Duvenage, Outa CEO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn 19 May 2026, Eskom issued a formal notice of intent to reduce, interrupt, or terminate Johannesburg’s electricity supply due to arrears debt of R5.2 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Electricity and energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa intervened and coordinated a meeting between the power utility and the metro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meeting resulted in an agreement that Eskom not implement the power cuts, with a “partnership” between the entities to ensure the city keeps its payments up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On 19 May 2026, Eskom issued a formal notice of intent to reduce, interrupt, or terminate Johannesburg’s electricity supply due to arrears debt of R5.2 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Electricity and energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa intervened and coordinated a meeting between the power utility and the metro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meeting resulted in an agreement that Eskom not implement the power cuts, with a “partnership” between the entities to ensure the city keeps its payments up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n