IN THE DARK: Children’s Memorial Institute still without power after 19 days, despite mayor’s promise

The Children’s Memorial Institute in Parktown enters its 19th consecutive day without electricity on Monday after City of Johannesburg Revenue officials overruled Mayor Dada Morero’s explicit promise to restore power, citing Gauteng Health’s failure to submit a debt-payment plan.

Following an intergovernmental dispute over R159.2-million in accumulated provincial utility arrears and subsequent reporting by Daily Maverick, Mayor Dada Morero visited the Children’s Memorial Institute (CMI) in Parktown on Wednesday, 16 September, promising that power would be reconnected by the following day.

However, City Power officials arrived the next day and said they could not restore power without a signed debt agreement.

Dr Dee Blackie, managing director of CMI, confirmed she received a message on Saturday, 19 September, from the City’s group head of revenue, Lufuno Mashau, stating that the city manager had informed the Gauteng Department of Health that a formal payment plan was required before power could be restored.

Mashau explained that the Health Department and the MEC had failed to attend a meeting requested by the mayor, but indicated that a rescheduled meeting on Monday might secure the necessary payment commitments to authorise reconnection.

The revelation confirms that municipal officials chose to maintain a total blackout on 22 child-welfare NPOs and 365 special-needs learners to leverage payment from provincial authorities.

Blackie expressed her heartbreak after three years of trying to protect the historic child-welfare hub from state administrative warfare.

“I am completely devastated to live in a city where no government officials appear to care for the most vulnerable children. After years of watching provincial and city officials alternate between ignorance and bullying, they are now simply ghosting the organisation.”

She highlighted how non-profit staff and community workers had been left to keep critical child safety services afloat using their own money.

“Community workers are using their own resources, including generators and fuel, and working for free to ensure the safety and care of the children. CMI functions as a collaborative community where various NGOs work together – ranging from dentists referring abused children to the Teddy Bear Foundation , to care and therapy provided by JPCCC [Johannesburg Parent and Child Counselling Centre] for abandoned babies and Childline referrals, as well as sensory regulation spaces for neurodiverse children.”

However, Blackie warned that NPOs cannot continue operating under such institutional neglect, abuse and exploitation.