City Power Heads to Court Seeking Urgent Interdict Against Hawks Over ‘Unlawful’ Raid in R67 Million Tender Probe
Johannesburg, 07 October 2025 – Johannesburg’s electricity distributor, City Power, is in the High Court today, pushing for an urgent interdict to stop the Hawks from using information seized during a recent raid at its offices. The utility claims the operation was unlawful and poorly executed, linked to an investigation into an alleged irregular R67 million tender for transformers. City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangwana spoke out, saying the Hawks’ actions border on humiliation and are disrupting operations, while insisting there is no wrongdoing on their side.
This legal battle comes amid broader scrutiny of public tenders in South Africa, where corruption allegations often lead to high-stakes probes. The Hawks raided City Power last week as part of a R500 million fraud inquiry, but the utility argues the warrants were invalid and the process flawed. As the case unfolds, it highlights tensions between law enforcement and public entities, with calls for clearer rules on investigations to avoid unnecessary disruptions.
The hearing, set for this morning in the Johannesburg High Court, follows City Power’s urgent application filed on 25 September 2025, demanding all seized materials be sealed pending a review. If successful, it could halt the Hawks’ probe temporarily, allowing City Power to challenge the raid’s legality.
The Raid and City Power’s Grievances
The Hawks conducted a search and seizure at City Power’s headquarters on 17 September 2025, inviting media to witness what they called a major operation. Mangwana explained that this was the second visit by the Hawks this year, and City Power had cooperated fully from the start, providing information even without warrants in August.
However, Mangwana criticised the execution: “The manner in which the so-called warrants were executed is what we’re challenging. They came claiming to take laptops and electronic equipment, but left without them, only downloading info on one contract.”
He added that the Hawks’ invitation to media created a spectacle, suggesting a raid for show rather than substance. “This is bordering on humiliation and embarrassment to the City Power brand and leadership,” Mangwana said.
The utility seeks two parts in the interdict: Part A to challenge the warrants’ validity, and Part B to halt their execution entirely. They want the court to set clear parameters for what the Hawks can access and how, to prevent overreach.
What Was Seized and the Hawks’ Approach
Mangwana revealed that despite media reports of a full raid, the Hawks took minimal items. “They did not take any laptops, computers, or electronic equipment as they said. They only downloaded information on one tender after we opened our servers for them.”
He questioned the urgency: “If there was any agency in retrieving information, why give us five days to bring laptops ourselves? That allows time to delete things if someone wanted to.”
The Hawks have confirmed receiving the interdict memo and are consulting their legal team. They describe the probe as ongoing since 2024, based on whistleblower tips about possible corruption at City Power. The investigation covers up to R500 million in potential fraud, but City Power insists it is cooperating and has nothing to hide.
The R67 Million Transformer Tender Under Scrutiny
The raid is reportedly tied to an alleged irregular R67 million tender for transformers awarded in 2023, where goods were supposedly undelivered or overpriced. Mangwana denied the claims: “The story says we used R67 million and bought only one transformer. That’s not true – we’ve got evidence, which we’ve already sent to the Hawks.”
He accused the Hawks of relying on untested News24 articles for their probe, ignoring City Power’s responses. “If there’s smoke without fire, it could just be misinformation,” Mangwana said, challenging the Hawks to conclude and act if evidence exists.
The tender forms part of Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s Energy Response Plan, aimed at easing loadshedding through transformer installations and other fixes. City Power maintains the contract was above board and part of legitimate efforts to improve power supply in townships.
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