A FAMOUS Hillbrow nightlife hotspot that attracts party-goers from around the world has been switched off after City Power uncovered a shocking R2,6 million electricity debt.
City Power officials descended on the Summit Club at the Summit Hotel during a high-level operation in the Joburg inner city and found what they describe as serious violations.
We are at the Summit Club in Hillbrow, which owes the city R2.6 million in unpaid power bills. How did they end up here, considering this club attracts clients from around the world? The club is also non-compliant with building control plans and lacks fire safety plans, which… pic.twitter.com/y33jfqvwgM
- Executive Mayor of the City Of Joburg (@DadaMorero) January 13, 2026
City Power spokesman, Isaac Mangena said the club, classified as a business customer, had been playing the system.
"We found that they are owing City Power about R2,6 million in electricity usage. What is worrying is that this is something we have warned businesses against," said Mangena.
According to City Power, the club allegedly opened two electricity accounts with two meters, leaving the old account with the massive debt and continuing to operate on a new one.
"They owed R2,6 million on one account and when they realised they could not pay, they opened another account with the city. So currently, they show that they are paying, but not on the account they owe on. That is fraudulent," he said.
Mangena said City Power has now consolidated the accounts, shut down the power supply and demanded payment.
ALSO READ | Maspala steps in as fire eats homes!Opens in new window
"We have switched them off. They need to pay at least 50%, which is about R1,3 million before we can switch them back on," he said.
The club is currently running on generators, but City Power said it is not backing down.
"We will continue to intensify our operations. Our team will come back later this evening to make sure they don't reconnect themselves. We will keep them in the darkness until they pay," said Mangena.
City Power also flagged serious building and safety violations, including non-compliance with building control plans, lack of fire safety plans and illegal internal layout changes without City approval, all in breach of city regulations.
Mangena said businesses like this hurt ordinary residents.
"These are the same customers who are the loudest when power goes off and we don't have cables, meters or transformers. We need this money so that we can reinvest it into our operations and keep the lights on in the City of Joburg," he said.
City Power said the operation in Hillbrow is part of a broader crackdown on non-paying businesses in the inner city.
