CoCT says it is making great strides in combatting illegal electricity connections

The City of Cape Town says it is making great strides when it comes to removing illegal connections across the metro.

According to the municipality, there have been no major power interruptions in Mfuleni, which is one of the City’s hotspots, due to the overload from illegal connections.

PHOTO: CoCT

Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Beverley van Reenen, said illegal connections have also reduced markedly.

‘’For instance from four bakkie loads of cable removed since the start of the operations to two bakkie loads in the most recent operation.’’

Van Reenen attributed the decrease to its Energy Law Enforcement and Technical Unit (ELETU), a specialised team to help protect electrical infrastructure from tampering, vandalism, theft and illegal connections.

‘’Repairs and disconnections of the same vandalised infrastructure are a challenge and often not feasible or safe and places pressure on City resources and negatively impacts our residents by leaving neighbourhoods without power,’’ said Beverley van Reenen, MMC for Energy.

‘’We are pleased to see our operations to combat the scourge of electricity vandalism paying off. We are intensifying our efforts by carrying out regular illegal connection disconnection operations in the metro's hotspots. We are aware of and are monitoring all areas impacted by illegal connection and infrastructure vandalism and are happy to see this having a positive impact in our communities,’’ she added.

PHOTO: Mitchum George

The MMC said a zero-tolerance with illegal activities will be taken.

‘’The City is serious about protecting its critical infrastructure and the residents who are legally supplied with electricity. We will not tolerate vandalism which impacts on this supply to our residents. Illegal connections leave whole communities in darkness due to overloaded connections and exposed live wires.’’

‘’Mfuleni is one of the areas which had been especially hard hit and this often caused prolonged electricity outages. We thank all teams, Law Enforcement and the South African Police Service (SAPS) for assisting with our regular operations.’’

PHOTO: CoCT

She encouraged residents to report illegal connections and vandalism to the City and SAPS, to 0800 11 00 77. A R5 000 reward is offered to tip offs that lead to arrests.

‘’Our message is clear: Let's ACT together. Protect your power. Stand up against illegal connections and vandalism. In City supplied areas and on City-owned land, where it is possible to do so, almost 100% of older informal settlements in the metro are connected to electricity supply.

 

Done By: Esobusi Mkangelwa // Edited By: Mitchum George