Over 2 000 businesses in Johannesburg are not paying for electricity, this is costing the City just under R1 billion.
On Monday Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba embarked on an operation to apprehend persons who illegally connected to City services and failed to follow the bylaws.
The mayor was joined by the Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Finance, Dr Rabelani Dagada; the City manager, Dr Ndivhoniswani Lukhwareni; Johannesburg Metro Police’s Department’s newly appointed chief, David Tembe; the head of the City’s Group Forensics Investigative Department, General Shadrack Sibiya; the City’s head of legal services, Isaac Mogashoa, as well as senior officials from the City and entities; officials from the Department of Home Affairs and members of the South African Police Services.
The Auditor General has reported that for the 2016/ 17 financial year, non-technical electricity losses amounted to R1 092 712 000; in (2015/16: R1 353 834 000) and were due to theft, bypass of meters, illegal de-calibration of meters and damaged meters.
During the operation on Monday, six suspects were arrested for illegally reconnecting to City services, following their disconnection by the City, and failing to pay their outstanding municipal accounts. These persons are said to owe the City R3 332 361.34. All the suspects had illegally connected to the City’s electricity supply.
During the operation, another 18 people were determined to be undocumented and were detained and will be processed by the Department of Home Affairs. Ensuring that City services are paid for is integral in capacitating the City to deliver quality and consistent services, especially to the poorest and most vulnerable residents.
According to Mashaba, the City remains unwavering in its commitment to bringing the rule of law back into the City.
