An explosive audit report on meter tampering has revealed that 27 Municipal officials and two Councillors have been flagged for stealing electricity.
The report was tabled at the last full Council meeting of 2020. Electricity has been running rampant in Endumeni with Mayor Mdluli continually warning that if nothing is done stem the tide, the scourge will render the municipality bankrupt.
In the last financial year, losses due to electricity theft amount to over R27-million. It was reported that in June alone, electricity valued at over R5-million was stolen.
The campaign to root out illegal connections got underway with the auditing of meters at homes of all municipal officials and Councillors.
Twenty One officials residing in the Glencoe/Sithembile area were found to have had tampered meters and six in Dundee/Sibongile. Disturbingly, two Councillors were also fingered in the report as to having tampered meters in their homes.
Their names were not revealed at the meeting but sources said the Councillors represent ‘different political parties’.
The Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, will also be informed of developments.
Should the Councillors be found guilty, they can either be issued a formal warning, be reprimanded, a request can be made to the MEC to suspend the Councillor or they can be fined or even removed from office.
Officials will undergo a disciplinary process of misconduct overseen by the Municipal Manager.
