The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has had its electricity supply disconnected after an outstanding municipal account of more than R37.2 million prompted City Power and the City of Johannesburg to cut power to the institution’s premises.
The disconnection was carried out on Monday, September 21, following the non-payment of the municipal account.
City Power said its team arrived at the premises on Monday morning to execute the disconnection but was initially refused access.
The power utility, together with the City of Johannesburg, later returned to the premises and carried out the disconnection in the afternoon.
According to City Power, the account is currently R37,227,157.06 in arrears.
The most recent payment received from the account was R50,000 on September 14. However, the payment did little to reduce the substantial amount outstanding.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the disconnection formed part of the utility’s credit-control processes and that government-related premises were not exempt from action over unpaid municipal accounts.
“Government departments, public institutions and other customers are expected to honour their municipal accounts. Government-related premises are not exempt from the City’s credit-control processes,” said Mangena.
He said City Power expected the responsible parties to settle the outstanding account or engage with the City regarding a payment arrangement.
The latest disconnection is not the first time the premises occupied by PAP have been targeted over outstanding municipal debt.
In September 2024, City Power disconnected the building during a broader disconnection operation involving customers with a combined outstanding debt of approximately R28 million.
The utility said it was concerned that, despite previous interventions, including the 2024 disconnection, a substantial debt had once again accumulated on the account.
The current arrears of R37.2 million are significantly higher than the R28 million in combined debt reported during the September 2024 operation.
The Pan-African Parliament occupies the premises, while the South African government is responsible for arrangements relating to the accommodation of the continental legislative body.
Public records indicate that the Department of Public Works has historically been responsible for rental payments relating to accommodation leased for PAP.
City Power said its Intergovernmental Relations function was continuing to facilitate engagements with national and provincial government departments and other government entities over outstanding municipal debt.
The engagements form part of the City’s broader efforts to improve revenue collection and strengthen coordination around the settlement of government accounts.
City Power said it would continue implementing its credit-control processes consistently, including against government institutions and public entities.
Mangena said the utility’s position was that all customers should meet their financial obligations to the City.
“Continued non-payment may result in disconnection in accordance with applicable procedures,” he said.
The disconnection places the spotlight on the management of municipal accounts linked to government institutions and the growing financial pressure faced by municipalities as they seek to recover billions of rands in outstanding debt.
City Power urged the responsible parties linked to the PAP premises to settle the outstanding account or approach the City through the appropriate channels to discuss a payment arrangement.
The utility warned that failure to address the arrears could result in further disruption to electricity supply.
The Pan-African Parliament is the legislative organ of the African Union and is based in Midrand, Johannesburg.
It remains unclear from the information provided whether a payment arrangement has been reached following Monday’s disconnection.
City Power said it would continue engaging relevant government structures as part of efforts to resolve outstanding municipal accounts while applying its credit-control measures.
For now, the PAP premises remain without electricity following the disconnection over the R37.2 million municipal debt.
