City Power has issued an urgent warning after a sophisticated fraud scheme emerged in which scammers are impersonating its Chief Executive Officer, Tshifularo Mashava, in a brazen attempt to exploit businesses and service providers through a fake tender.
The fraudulent email, now circulating widely, instructs recipients to urgently contact a private cellphone number regarding a supposed tender for the “Maintenance of MV/LV Electrical Distribution Networks, Public Lighting and Metering Infrastructure and Township Reticulation (Panels)”.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the scam is a calculated effort to create panic, urgency, and false authority to lure unsuspecting victims into illegitimate dealings.
“The perpetrators are deliberately using the name and position of the CEO to create a false sense of urgency and authority, in what we suspect is an attempt to solicit favors or monies for tenders using the name of the CEO in misleading recipients into engaging outside of formal procurement processes,” he said.
Mangena stressed that the email is entirely fraudulent and was not issued by Mashava, warning that criminals are deliberately abusing her name to solicit payments or favours outside official channels.
He reiterated that the City Power CEO does not communicate directly with service providers or company directors regarding tenders and that all procurement processes are conducted through formal, transparent, and verifiable supply chain management systems.
Mangena explained that all legitimate tender enquiries are handled through the official Tender Advice Centre, urging stakeholders to verify any suspicious communication through recognised channels.
Service providers and members of the public can confirm tender details by contacting the centre at 011 490 7112 or via email at tenderadvicecentre@citypower.co.za.
He warned that any communication that deviates from these established processes should be treated as suspicious and reported immediately. Residents and businesses have been urged not to respond to the email, not to call the number provided, and not to share any personal, financial, or company information.
Mangena urged anyone who has received the message to report it, whether or not they engaged with the sender, adding that cases can be reported to the South African Police Service or directly to City Power’s Security Risk Management Control Room on 011 490 7900 / 7911 / 7553 or via WhatsApp on 083 579 4497.
“City Power remains committed to protecting its customers and stakeholders from fraudulent activities and urges the public to remain vigilant and to verify all suspicious communications through official channels,” he said.
The utility has urged heightened vigilance as fraudsters increasingly exploit trusted institutions and senior officials to carry out increasingly sophisticated scams targeting the public and the business sector.
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za
