The metro has recorded close to R800-million a year in non-technical electricity losses, caused among other factors by illegal power connections across Ekurhuleni.
The municipality has undertaken rolling operations of disconnecting illegal connections and arresting suspected syndicates.
In November alone, close to 30 arrests of perpetrators who illegally tampered with electrical infrastructure have been made.
These arrests were made during raids to disconnect illegal connections led by the metro’s energy department and the EMPD to curb unlawful connections.
The metro has resorted to using a harsher possible criminal justice process by using the new legislative framework (Criminal Matters Amendment Act No 18 of 2015).
Initially, people accused of tampering with electrical equipment could be released on bail by a police officer or a prosecutor as the crime was deemed a minor offence.
The amended legislation provides that bail for people accused of crimes related to essential infrastructures, such as water and electricity installations, may only be considered by a court, not police officers or prosecutors.
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The legislation has also provided for harsher minimum sentences ranging from three to seven years for some essential infrastructure crimes, and regulated theft of ferrous or non-ferrous metal which formed part of essential infrastructure.
Municipal officials, contractors and companies that connect illegally to the power grid will face the harshest offences created by the legislation.
The MMC for Water, Sanitation and Energy, Clr Tiisetso Nketle, said the metro has adopted a hard-line approach to the illegal connection of electricity.
“In addition to the use of the criminal justice system to curb illegal connections, customers who are found to have connected illegally will face a back-billing from the day they stopped purchasing electricity,” Nketle said.
In addition, the costs of disconnection and re-instating a legal connection to a business customer are borne by the concerned customer.
Those who want to avoid the consequences of illegal connections can visit the nearest energy depot to normalise their connections.
Residents are encouraged to report any illegal connections or suspicion of illegal connection activities through the municipal call centre on 086 054 3000.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist) kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za
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