Power inspections shock businesses

Prominent Ballito businesses were invaded by large groups of KwaDukuza municipality members and accused of electricity tampering last week.

Hirsch Ballito branch manager, Joewell Ebrahim said about 15 people walked into the store last week Tuesday and started shouting threats.

“The group were very intimidating and threatened that they were going to close the store, because we did not pay our electricity bill. They accused us of tampering with the electricity box to reduce the cost of power used at the branch. They also handed us a fine of R8276.40,” said Ebrahim.

Hirsch refused to pay the fine, as their electricity payment is up to date. Furthermore, Ebrahim said they do not have access to the electricity box.

“Only the municipality has access to the box, as they have the keys to the sealed, locked cabinet.”

She said she cannot understand why this inspection for tampering required 15 people with a fine ready to issue.

“Surely meters are read at least once every three months for billing purposes?”

The following day, a group of about 20 men arrived at The Well and demanded access to the meter room.

The body corporate chairman, Dr Kevin Stevens, was contacted and on his arrival, the man in charge demanded access to the electricity meter room, because they were looking for illegal electricity connections.

He said he was shocked to hear that of the 20 men, only one was the electrician, the rest were his bodyguards.

“There is no need to have so many bodyguards in Ballito. All of these people are being paid to stand around.”

No illegal connections were found.

The businesses feel that they are being targeted with the intention of making them scapegoats to make up for the rumoured shortfall in payments made to Eskom by the municipality.

KwaDukuza municipality spokesperson Sifiso Zulu said although council has reported revenue loss of about R60 million per annum as a result of, among other things, electricity tampering, nobody is being targeted.

“There is no shortfall in payments made to Eskom. If property owners accept that the infrastructure being inspected is the property of KwaDukuza municipality, they would know that the bylaws allow that action be taken to inspect and audit such infrastructure and disconnect where necessary,” said Zulu.

He said council has hired a service provider for this inspection and security arrangements were necessary, as people tend to be violent in some instances.

Furthermore, he said bylaws allow for municipal officials to enter premises without consent from the landlord or body corporate.

“Inspections started in the industrial area in Shaka’s Head, followed by the industrial area in the north of KwaDukuza and now in Ballito. All these visits were unannounced and some businesses have been found to be on the other side of the law, so to speak.”

He said their electricians in Ballito have reported that four business houses have been found to be tampering with electricity meters.