A multi-agency service delivery operation has clamped down on illegal electricity and water connections in Germiston, targeting residential flats with a combined municipal debt of more than R20m.

City officials, supported by Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officers, removed illegal electricity cables and circuits from properties found to be unlawfully connected or failing to pay for services during the by-law enforcement drive.

The operation formed part of a coordinated effort to enforce municipal regulations, curb revenue losses, and address illegal connections that place strain on the city’s infrastructure.

Officials from the Department of Home Affairs’ Immigration Unit were also on site to monitor compliance among foreign nationals.

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During the operation, one Chinese national was apprehended after failing to produce documentation proving legal entry into South Africa.

Authorities said the intervention was aimed at restoring compliance with municipal by-laws while promoting fair and sustainable service delivery.

The clampdown forms part of the municipality’s ongoing efforts to recover outstanding debt, protect essential infrastructure, and encourage responsible use of municipal services.