City Power has welcomed the Johannesburg High Court’s decision to postpone its urgent application against the Hawks to Friday, describing it as a necessary step to ensure fairness and legal compliance.

The case arises from what City Power calls the “unlawful execution of a search warrant” by the Hawks’ Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) on 17 September 2025.

The municipal utility is seeking an urgent interdict to suspend the execution of that warrant until the court hears full arguments and makes a ruling.

The matter, which was scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, was postponed following a request by the Hawks’ legal representatives for more time to study City Power’s application and file a responding affidavit.

In a statement, City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the entity found the Hawks’ request troubling.

“City Power finds this development concerning, noting that the Hawks were furnished with all relevant documents last week and had sufficient time to prepare. Instead, the Hawks only sent their affidavit last night on the eve of the sitting,” Mangena said.

He emphasised that City Power’s court action was not meant to hinder law enforcement, but rather to uphold the rule of law.

“The interdict is not an attempt to obstruct justice but rather to safeguard constitutional and administrative fairness, ensuring that investigations are conducted lawfully, transparently, and without prejudice,” said Mangena.

He reiterated that the utility had shown consistent cooperation with investigators since the beginning of the probe in November 2024.

“It is important to emphasise that City Power has consistently demonstrated its willingness to comply with the Hawks’ investigation since it began in November 2024, having already provided the requested documentation under a Section 205 inquiry,” Mangena said.

Mangena further condemned the conduct of certain investigating officers and the manner in which the search warrant was executed.

“Recent actions by certain investigating officers, including the staging of media during searches, have raised serious concerns about motive, procedural irregularities, and potential abuse of process,” he stated.

He concluded by expressing hope that the legal process would now move forward properly.

“We are hopeful that the Hawks will file their papers by 18h00 today as requested by Judge Yacoob, which will give City Power a chance to respond by Thursday morning,” said Mangena.

“The entity continues to uphold the rule of law and remains committed to cooperating fully with all legitimate investigative processes.”

Parallel Raids Raise Questions

The latest court bid follows a raid last month, when Hawks officers from the Germiston office served a search and seizure warrant at City Power’s headquarters. The officers demanded access to executives’ electronic devices and company servers.

It was the second raid on City Power this year — and notably, conducted by a different team of investigators, raising concerns of possible overlapping or parallel investigations within the DPCI.

African Times sought clarity from the Hawks on whether such dual probes were standard practice, but received no response. Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said only that the matter was “under internal legal review.”

“The DPCI received the memo on 30 September 2025 and is still consulting with our Legal Department and deliberating on the matter,” said Mogale.

The raids form part of an ongoing investigation into a R67-million tender awarded by City Power, which has been flagged for possible maladministration.

NPA Denies Political Influence

City Power also raised concerns about alleged political influence in the case, suggesting that state institutions like the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) might be used to pursue political agendas.

However, NPA Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane dismissed that notion, clarifying that the case is being handled by a prosecutor within the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit, not the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).

“The matter was allocated to one of our advocates in the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit, who gave instructions for further investigation. Once complied with by the DPCI, the docket will be brought back for a decision,” said Mjonondwane.

Political Allegations and Denials

Amid the unfolding legal drama, senior ANC Johannesburg officials, including Regional Secretary Sasabona Manganye, have been accused of trying to influence operations and appointments at City Power. Manganye has firmly denied the allegations, calling them “baseless and politically motivated.”

“The allegations are not true. My duties as Regional Secretary are administrative, and I am not involved in the City’s operational matters,” Manganye told African Times.

He rejected claims that he demanded money or intervened in DPCI investigations, saying: “We are going to a Regional Conference, and unfortunately, I have been subjected to negative media reports about things that don’t exist.”

City Power Stands Firm

Despite the swirl of legal and political tension, City Power has maintained that it will not be distracted from its core mission of providing reliable electricity to Johannesburg residents and operating within the bounds of the law.

Mangena reaffirmed that City Power’s legal challenge is about process and principle, not politics.

“City Power remains steadfast in its commitment to clean governance and accountability,” he said. “Our stance is clear: the rule of law must be upheld, and investigations must be conducted fairly and without theatrics or intimidation.”

The High Court will hear the matter on Friday, 10 October 2025, when City Power is expected to argue for the suspension of the search warrant’s execution pending full judicial review.