‘We’re coming for every cent’: Joburg cuts off defaulters in R200m crackdown

In a dramatic show of force yesterday, 27 May 2026, the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Dada Morero led a city-wide revenue blitz through the inner city suburbs of Hillbrow, Berea, and Yeoville, cutting off power to some of the City of Johannesburg's most notorious defaulters.

The operation, which the Cllr Morero confirmed will now be a weekly feature, targeted body corporates and property owners who have collectively ignored bills for years. He said the City is currently owed over R200 million in these areas alone - money that is crippling service delivery.

“This is one area where the city is losing a lot of revenue," said Mayor Morero, standing outside a disconnected block of flats in Berea. “The City is owed R200 million from defaulters right here. That money must be collected. The free ride is over."

The crackdown yielded immediate results. In Berea, officials disconnected a property at 8 Beatrice Lane, which had an eye-watering overdue balance of R11.9 million.

At 49 Mitchell Street, the team pulled the plug on a body corporate that owes a staggering R49.1 million - the largest single default of the day. Similarly, 55 Soper Road was cut off over a R15.9 million debt.

Not every site was straightforward. At 29 York Street, technicians held off on disconnection after finding that cutting the supply would inadvertently punish paying residents. “We are firm, but we are fair," Morero said. “That case is escalated to the Service Delivery Centre for total isolation without harming innocent tenants."

In City and Suburban, officers found that Slip Knot Inv 777 on Troye Street had already been disconnected - a sign that some defaulters are pre-emptively trying to avoid the new task team. Meanwhile, on Kotze Street in Johannesburg, the Bay Tower Prop was hit with a Level 2 disconnections over a R9.1 million debt.

Mayor Morero made it clear that yesterday's operation was just the opening salvo. “This clampdown will be a weekly feature. We will be back next week, and the week after. If you owe the City, settle your account or sit in the dark."

The City has warned that body corporates found to have been disconnected will only be reconnected once the full overdue balance is settled, plus reconnection fees. For the residents of Berea, Hillbrow, and Yeoville, the message from the Mayor's office is clear: pay up, or power down.

28/05/2026

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