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City Power says it has successfully cut-off illegal connections and confiscated around 18 000 kilograms worth of aluminum cable conductors from Kanana informal settlement in Rabie Ridge.
The operation which was part of the entity’s comprehensive plan of reducing excessive electricity consumption, was carried out on Wednesday morning in collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
According to the entity, residents of the informal settlement have been tapping into their network unlawfully, stealing electricity, contributing to overloading that tripped power in formalised housing, and destruction of infrastructure.
Since the start of the year, City Power revealed that it has had to replace eight transformers in the area that were damaged by illegal connections.
It further said, at the moment, three additional transformers need to be replaced in Rabie Ridge that were also affected by overloading.
One person was arrested for connecting electricity illegally, with several others arrested in possession of stolen cables used to connect power illegally.
City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava has commended law enforcement agencies for coming to the party and always assisting the utility with combating illegal connections.
Removing illegal connections is a short-term solution
“We are grateful to all the law enforcement agencies for supporting our efforts in dealing with electricity theft, particularly during this period where our network is under severe strain.”
Although she highlighted that while it’s important to actively take part in removing illegal connections, she admitted that it’s just a short-term solution.
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Mashava added; “Illegal connections are part of a bigger housing challenge that must be addressed, to enable us to bring in electricity services in some of these informal settlements.
“We have emphasised that it would work in our favour to have the 321 informal settlements in the City of Johannesburg electrified, as we will be able to quantify capacity needed, and gain revenue from electricity purchase.
