The Freedom Front Plus in Tshwane says it is receiving more complaints from residents who claim they are being unfairly fined over prepaid electricity meters.
The party said some residents have been fined up to R75 000 after being accused of tampering with their meters.
“In many cases, residents claim that these fines are unfounded and legally questionable,” the FF+ said.
The party also said some residents alleged they had faced intimidation.
According to the FF+, there is evidence pointing to a concerning pattern in the complaints.
Technicians accused of bypassing meters
The FF+ said some residents reported power problems, after which technicians allegedly arrived without spare parts.
The party claimed technicians then bypassed the meters to restore power temporarily.
It said inspectors later visited the same properties and accused residents of meter tampering.
The FF+ also claimed some people later told residents they could make the fines disappear in exchange for cash payments.
Two Tshwane residents have already lodged criminal complaints with the police over the alleged irregularities.
Residents urged to document everything
The FF+ said it has raised the issue in Tshwane’s Oversight Committees on Finance and Community Safety.
The party said residents should not fall victim to alleged corrupt practices.
It advised ratepayers to keep records of all electricity complaints, including reference numbers.
Residents were also urged to take photos of their meters before and after technicians work on them.
The FF+ warned residents not to pay cash to make fines “disappear”.
It said anyone asked for a bribe should report an extortion case to the police and submit a formal dispute to the City of Tshwane.
Tshwane pushes smart prepaid meters
The complaints come as Tshwane plans to phase out conventional postpaid electricity meters.
In its draft 2026/27 budget, the metro set out a R78 million plan to move toward smart prepaid metering.
The city said the move is meant to curb electricity losses, secure municipal revenue and provide residents with deposit-free electricity.
Tshwane said smart meters can help detect tampering and monitor unusual consumption patterns.
The meters are connected to the internet and can alert the metro when there are signs of interference.
They also support split-meter infrastructure, where the meter box is moved out of direct reach.
The city said this would help ensure consumption is measured accurately and reduce illegal electricity use.