The municipality said on Tuesday that its electrical department visited businesses in the CBD and surrounding areas that were tampering with meters.
“At one of the businesses, the meter box was bypassed, and the municipal officials disconnected the illegal connection and issued a fine,” the municipality said in a Facebook post.
The municipality also highlighted that illegal connections cost a significant amount of money, “This results in significant non-revenue losses that strain municipal finances. Residents should understand that illegal connections and tampering are criminal acts.”
During the operation, the electricity department disconnected power at several businesses in the CBD, including a popular nightclub.
The municipality’s spokesperson, Lerato Kgomo, said the operation is ongoing, and municipal officials will arrive at businesses unannounced.
“Where a meter is found to be bypassed, it will be replaced with a new one that will prevent tampering,” the municipality said.
