Eskom team on alert for power supply during World Cup

By Ofentse Mokae
19 June 2010

Power utility Eskom says it has deployed technical teams around the country to monitor the electricity supply during the World Cup.

The state owned entity’s Andrew Etzinger says this follows repeated power cuts is Johannesburg, Pretoria and Ekurhuleni, frustrating soccer fans and other consumers.

Etzinger says they have discovered electricity theft in Gauteng, which could be the reason for the power cuts.

He says they are working to reduce illegal connections.

Meanwhile Telkom has decided to file for an overall tariff increase of less than one-percent in the interests of consumers and in a effort to ensure affordable telecommunications.

Managing director Nombulelo Moholi says they are confident the Independent Communications Authority will approve an overall increase of only nought-point-eight-percent.

Data tariffs would drop by just over two-percent. Subject to Icasa's approval, the new tariffs will become effective from the 1st of August.