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Greenville has long been identified as a hotspot for illegal connections, with authorities recently seizing more than 20000kg of illegal cables.
City Power officials removing illegal cables. Picture: City Power
City Power has seized approximately 20000kg of illegally connected electrical cables during a major operation in Alexandra’s Greenville informal settlement.
The confiscated copper and aluminium cables, valued at around R450,000, were removed during a coordinated effort with law enforcement agencies on Wednesday.
According to the power utility, the operation involved teams from Revenue Protection Services, Security and Risk Management, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), and the South African Police Service (Saps).
“This joint operation represents our continued commitment to addressing the serious issue of electricity theft in our communities,” said Isaac Mangena, City Power spokesperson.
City Power: Illegal cable connections persist
This latest intervention represents an escalation of ongoing efforts to combat electricity theft in the area.
Greenville has long been identified as a hotspot for illegal connections, with previous operations in 2024 resulting in the confiscation of more than 10000kg of unlawfully connected cables.
“Unfortunately, the criminal syndicates responsible for running these illegal connection schemes returned and reconnected residents, prompting further enforcement action,” Mangena explained.
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Impact of illegal connections on infrastructure and paying customers
The unauthorised connections have been linked to significant infrastructure damage throughout Alexandra, resulting in frequent unplanned power outages that affect paying customers in surrounding areas.
Mangena noted that the growing informal settlements in the area have worsened the situation.
“With the growing rate of informal settlements in the area, we have also been seeing an increase in the number of illegal connections, exacerbated by the expansion of back-room dwellers, which negatively affect the provision of services to our paying customers.”
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Safety concerns
Beyond the financial and infrastructure implications, the illegal connections pose significant safety hazards to both residents and utility workers.
“These illegal connections are not only criminal acts, but they also pose significant dangers, including electrical fires, electrocution, and other life-threatening hazards,” said Mangena.
“These connections compromise the stability of the electricity network and endanger the lives of both residents and our technicians.”
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Illegal connections take financial toll on the city
Electricity theft places a substantial burden on City Power’s finances.
According to Mangena, the utility estimates annual losses of approximately R100 million due to non-technical causes, including cable theft and vandalism.
“This is effectively money stolen from the city and its paying customers, hindering service delivery and infrastructure investment,” Mangena stated.
City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava also appealed to residents regarding the situation: “We urge residents to refrain from engaging in illegal electricity connections and to report any electricity-related crimes to the authorities.”
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