Hillbrow’s Summit Club Owes City of Johannesburg R2.6 Million in Unpaid Power Bills
- The Summit Club in Hillbrow is under investigation after City of Johannesburg officials uncovered R2.6 million in unpaid electricity bills
- Authorities also flagged multiple safety and building regulation violations and noted the club’s lack of approved fire safety plans
- Mayor Dada Morero said the enforcement action forms part of a broader crackdown on non-compliant and illegally operated properties across the city
Source: Getty Images
JOHANNESBURG-The Summit Club in Hillbrow, a nightlife venue that reportedly attracts patrons from around the world, is facing mounting scrutiny after it emerged that the establishment owes the City of Johannesburg R2.6 million in unpaid electricity bills and is allegedly in violation of several municipal regulations.
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero posted a video on 13 January 2026 showing city officials inspecting the property as part of ongoing enforcement operations.
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Officials flag R2.6 million electricity debt
Among the most serious concerns identified were financial irregularities relating to the club’s electricity account. Officials revealed that the R2.6 million debt accumulated on an old account that was left unpaid while a new account was subsequently opened. Municipal authorities have flagged this practice as potentially fraudulent, suggesting it may have been used to allow the business to continue operating while avoiding settlement of the original debt.
City says club fails to meet safety standards
Despite its apparent commercial success and international clientele, officials said the Summit Club has failed to meet basic municipal and safety obligations. The venue was found to be non-compliant with building control regulations and reportedly does not have approved fire safety plans, placing it in violation of Section 10 of the relevant building and safety legislation. Authorities warned that the absence of approved fire safety measures poses a serious risk to both patrons and staff, particularly given Hillbrow’s dense urban environment.
Comparisons drawn with Tshwane enforcement operations
The operation drew comparisons on social media to previous law-enforcement actions led by Tshwane Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya. On 18 December 2025, Moya led a raid on a suspected brothel operating under the guise of an accommodation facility in Sunnyside, Pretoria. She later confirmed that six foreign nationals were arrested during the operation, along with the owner of the establishment. Moya said the suspected brothel was operated by Chinese nationals and mirrored the layout of other illegal establishments previously shut down by the City of Tshwane. She added that authorities were uncovering what appeared to be a coordinated syndicate operating multiple brothels across the capital. The mayor had previously overseen the closure of the well-known Iphi Ntombi establishment in the Pretoria CBD.
Mixed reactions on social media
While some social media users welcomed the City of Johannesburg’s action against the Summit Club, others questioned the timing and motives behind the operation, with several commentators suggesting Mayor Mororo was emulating enforcement strategies used in Tshwane.
@Markosonke1 said:
"Mayor, with all due respect, this R2.6 million didn’t accumulate overnight. Why now? This feels less like law enforcement and more like campaign content. Same buildings, same problems, just a new camera angle."
@ZikhaliBandile commented:
"Switch them off, plus even those girls operating there are foreigners."
@Mothematiks stated:
"You are too, too late. Stop trying to copy our favourite mayor in Tshwane. We don’t like you, we don’t want you."
@EarthOddysey commented:
"Hard working residents struggle to make a living and then pay every city bill, while places like this owe millions! They break safety laws, dodge debt and keep operating, and the city allows it. Honest Joburg citizens are subsidising criminals."
@FLidovho remarked:
"Copycat. No original ideas."
Source: Getty Images
3 Briefly articles on the City of Johannesburg raids
City of Johannesburg (CoJ) officials raided a second allegedly hijacked property in the Bryanston area, just days after a similar operation was carried out at another home nearby. The latest raid took place at a property along Bryanston Drive on Monday, 12 January 2026. During the operation, officials discovered signs that the upmarket home had been abandoned before being unlawfully occupied. The property is reported to owe the City approximately R1.1 million in outstanding water and electricity bills.
The City of Johannesburg intensified raids on dilapidated and hijacked buildings as part of its broader campaign to dismantle criminal syndicates operating within the city. The MMC for Community Safety, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, participated in one such law-enforcement operation on 23 December 2025. During the raid, officials inspected several buildings suspected of being unlawfully occupied or operated by criminal networks. Tshwaku said the City has implemented a structured plan to inspect buildings believed to be illegally rented out by criminal syndicates. He added that enforcement teams also uncovered properties operating with illegal water and electricity connections, as well as unlawful chicken farming activities.
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Source: Briefly News
