An Ekurhuleni metro employee and eight businessmen were arrested on November 7 for illegally connecting electricity to business premises in Alberton.
The employee works for the Energy Department, which is responsible for electricity connections and disconnections.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the metro revealed that the employee solicited a bribe for illegally connecting one of the businesses.
The businessmen were arrested for having an illegal connection to their premises.
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All affected premises were disconnected yesterday during a law enforcement operation led by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police and the Energy Department.
Ekurhuleni metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe said the metro lost R704,8-million during the financial year that ended in June due to non-technical electricity losses caused by, among other things, illegal connections and bypassing of electricity meters.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water, Sanitation and Energy councillor Tiisetso Nketle said government in general is in a state of austerity measures and it is unacceptable that the metro loses electricity revenue that can contribute to addressing other urgent service delivery needs.
“We will do all we can to rid the metro of rogue elements in its employ who are assisting criminal syndicates in the business community with illegal electricity connections,” she said.
MMC Cllr Nketle urged residents to report any incidents of fraud or corruption to the Anti-Fraud and Corruption
hotline on 0800 102 201.
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