The various departments of the Emalahleni Municipality raided different houses in the Central Business District (CBD) in connection with their Electricity Back to Basics operation.
As part of the Electricity Back to Basics operation done in various homes in the city, a house situated on Wells Street was found with cables of illegal electric connections. The municipality joined hands with the police and other law enforcements in this operation done on Friday, October 28.
On Friday, October 28 Witbank Police, Legacy Emergency Specialists and the Community Policing Forum (CPF) joined hands in the campaign to keep the city crime free. From the municipality’s side, the traffic, fire, electrical and law enforcers were present on site.
This was done to inspect suspicious addresses where owners are stealing electricity from the council through illegal connections.
A tenant demonstrates how they switch on their lights by connecting two strings of cables together at a house located on French Street. The Electricity Back to Basics operation took place on Friday, October 28.
During the operation a total of nine addresses were visited where electricity money owed by the owners to the council can amount up to R2.5 million.
One house situated on Wells Street with 10 occupants had illegal electricity connections all around the house. The men alleged that they are tenants and found the house as it is.
When the operation continued, the team visited French Street where close to three houses also had illegal electricity connections. In one instance one of the tenants demonstrated how they switched on their lights by connecting ends of two cables.
Two home owners who were found on scene were arrested by police and were held inside the cells for the whole weekend.
The two suspects aged 27 and 32 appeared at the Witbank Magistrate Court on Monday, October 31 on charges of theft of electricity.
At all the addresses it was confirmed by electricians of the council that the residents are stealing electricity through illegal connections.
Witbank’s Station Commander, Brig Delisiwe Motha who was also part of the operation emphasised that crime will not be co-operated during her reign. She is prepared to take the gloves off and fight. “No one will be allowed to do anything illegal under my watch. People cannot come and do as they please here. Steal electricity and you will be arrested and face the full force of the law. Gone are the days of just issuing fines, it’s back to basics” said Brig Motha.
Police are continuing with their investigations and are expecting to arrest the other seven home owners on the registered dockets. Similar operations are planned for the festive season period throughout eMalahleni.
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