The Hawks have once again descended on Johannesburg City Power’s headquarters, intensifying their investigation into questionable contracts linked to millions of rands in public funds.
On Thursday, September the 25th, a convoy of Hawks vehicles was seen entering the utility’s premises as part of a search and seizure operation. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation confirmed that the visit formed part of an ongoing probe into City Power’s procurement processes.
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At the centre of the investigation is a R67 million purchase order for electricity transformers in 2023. While the order specified that the transformers were to be delivered by December that year, sources close to the matter claim that although payment was made, no transformers were ever delivered.
City Power spokesperson, Isaac Mangena acknowledged the Hawks’ visit, stressing that the utility has been cooperative throughout the investigation. “They have been requesting information every now and then and we have been cooperating. We will continue cooperating with any of the investigations, either by the Hawks or any other authorised legal entity of government,” Mangena said.
This is not the first time the Hawks have sought answers from City Power. In July, the utility denied reports of a raid, clarifying that the visits formed part of a “lawful request” for information on irregular contracts.
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Concerns over City Power’s financial management are not new. The Auditor-General’s report last year flagged weaknesses in its internal controls, citing collusion between employees and service providers, fraudulent job numbers, duplicate approvals, and breaches in procurement and payment processes. The utility’s own internal investigation, concluded in March 2025 confirmed significant financial losses as a result.
With multiple visits in just a few months, the Hawks’ ongoing probe raises further questions about accountability and transparency at Johannesburg’s embattled power utility.
Sub-Editor: Thibela Thandeka
