Power returns, uncertainty stays
Electricity was restored to the Children’s Memorial Institute in Parktown, Johannesburg on 22 September, ending a 20‑day blackout that disabled services across the campus. The reconnection came less than 48 hours after reporting revealed that municipal revenue officials had effectively overruled a public commitment by Mayor Dada Morero to switch power back on.
While the reconnection brings immediate relief, campus management and non‑profit leaders said they remain on high alert. They warned the root cause — an unresolved intergovernmental debt crisis — has not been addressed and that no formal, written guarantees have been provided to protect the child welfare hub from future disconnections.
How the shutdown unfolded
Power was cut on 3 September after City Power moved against campus accounts linked to accumulated provincial utility arrears. The cut followed a dispute over more than R159.2 million held across Gauteng Health master accounts.
The blackout left critical services disrupted across the complex: 22 child‑welfare NPOs operating on the campus were affected and 365 learners at the Johannesburg School for Autism — many with special needs — were left without electricity for classrooms and support services.
Mayor’s intervention blocked
Municipal officials initially declined to follow through on Mayor Morero’s public promise to restore power during a visit to the campus on 16 September. According to reporting, City Power and revenue officials demanded a signed Acknowledgement of Debt and a payment agreement from the Gauteng Department of Health before any reconnection would take place, effectively stalling the mayoral intervention.
“We have no written guarantee, so we continue to live in fear that we could be disconnected at any time and that both water and electricity could be disconnected,” Claudine Ribeiro, chairperson of the Children’s Memorial Institute, said.
Ribeiro said the organisation and resident service providers were relieved to have power back but remain worried because there is no documented assurance that the supply will remain stable. She said the matter needs a structural resolution so the campus can be protected once and for all.
Services disrupted and vulnerable users impacted
The campus houses a cluster of non‑profit organisations delivering child welfare, medical and educational services. The shutdown disrupted clinical services at the Children’s Memorial Institute Paediatric Dental Clinic — reported to be the only state dental facility for children in parts of Johannesburg — and impeded daily operations at several NGOs supporting children and families.
- Start of blackout: 3 September
- Reconnection: 22 September
- Declared debt linked to blackout: R159.2 million
- Non‑profits affected: 22
- Special‑needs learners affected: 365
| Key date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3 Sep | City Power cuts supply to campus |
| 16 Sep | Mayor Morero visits and pledges reconnection |
| 22 Sep | Power restored |
Broader implications and the unresolved debt
The incident lays bare the fragile arrangements that can leave essential community services exposed when financial disputes between provincial departments and municipalities escalate. Campus management described the reconnection as conditional and temporary given that City Power demanded formalised repayment undertakings from the provincial department before committing to a long‑term solution.
Service providers on site warned that the lack of a written agreement or state guarantee means the campus remains vulnerable to future cut‑offs, with potentially severe consequences for children reliant on daily medical and therapeutic services.
For parents, educators and caregivers at the campus the incident has sharpened concerns about contingency planning. Several organisations said they will pursue written guarantees and clearer intergovernmental commitments to prevent recurrence.
Municipal and provincial authorities have not published a formal timeline or document ensuring the Children’s Memorial Institute will be shielded from further disconnection. Until such guarantees are produced, campus leaders said they will continue to press both the City and Gauteng Health for a durable resolution.
The children, families and staff who depend on the services at Parktown will expect that pressure to translate into written assurances, not just verbal promises, before they can be confident that the lights — and the critical services they power — will stay on.
