City power removes illegal connections in Kanana, Midrand

Thandeka Kubheka from Kanana said the informal settlement is 30 years old and does not get developed, nor even electrified.

Sphiwe Masilela

9 hours ago

Tons of confiscated cable pulled down the streets to be loaded in the truck. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

About 18 000kg of illegally connected aluminum cables were confiscated during City Power’s rigorous load re-education campaign.

This happened in Kanana informal settlement near Rabie Ridge, Midrand, and left thousands of residents in the dark.

Tons of illegally connected cables were confiscated. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

The removed cables are estimated to be worth R1.5m. The operation on July 31 was in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies including police, Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), and and crime wardens.

The power utility spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, said residents of the informal settlement have been tapping into their network unlawfully, stealing electricity.

Illegal cable connection removed and confiscated by power utility officials and contractors. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

“This contributed to overloading, that tripped power in formalised housing, and destruction of infrastructures. Since the start of the year, City Power has had to replace eight transformers in the area that were damaged by illegal connections. At the moment, three additional transformers need to be replaced in Rabie Ridge that were also affected by overloading,” said Mangena.

A bunch of cables that were used in illegal connections have been removed in Kanana. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

He said one person has since been arrested for connecting electricity illegally, with several others arrested in possession of stolen cables used to connect power illegally.
Mangena said most of these Aerial Bundle Cables (ABC) are stolen from the streetlights across the city, rendering them dysfunctional.

Illegally connected electricity cables cut down in Kanana, near Rabie Ridge. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

Also read: City Power disconnects 88 newly metered residents in Mayibuye

“Last month, the entity introduced load-reduction, in response to the increasing risk of grid collapse. At that stage the load on the network had reached alarming levels, forcing the utility to take drastic measures to avoid the city being plunged into a blackout,” he said.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena during the operation in Kanana. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

Part of the load reduction measures that City Power committed to undertake, was the removal of illegal connections which are contributing a significant amount of load in the system.

City Power officials pull down illegally connected cables before cutting them. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

One Kanana resident Thandeka Kubheka said she was disappointed that the informal settlement, which is 30 years old, is not yet electrified.

“We voted, and now they are disconnecting us like this. These people only care for themselves, and when they wanted the votes early this year, they were quick to campaign here. And now this! This place has been here for 30 years, and it does not get developed. After five years, we get a new councillor and they all do nothing. We have had five councillors and they all give us empty promises. We do not have proper infrastructure and toilet systems,” said Kubheka.