Johannesburg City Power Needs R44 Billion to Overhaul Aging Infrastructure

Johannesburg City Power has highlighted the urgent need for R44 billion to replace its aging infrastructure, a key contributor to its technical electricity losses, which amount to about R1.5 billion.

The latest Auditor-General (AG) report reveals that non-technical losses, such as theft, illegal connections, and billing errors, add up to a staggering R3.4 billion.

One of the major issues is the aging transformers, which typically have a lifespan of 35 years. However, many of City Power’s transformers have far exceeded this threshold. CEO Tshifularo Mashava explained that some transformers are up to 90 years old, leading to frequent breakdowns. These breakdowns result in significant electricity loss before the utility can even deliver power to customers.

Mashava emphasized, “These transformers should have been replaced 30 years ago, but they weren’t. Successive administrations have neglected this issue. Now, in 2025, we’re still relying on equipment that is decades past its expiration.”

City Power is actively seeking funds from international investors and lobbying the Johannesburg municipality for a budget increase to address the infrastructure crisis.

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