Pay up or do without
150 house holds were inspected and more than 500 metres of illegal cables were removed
Hostel dwellers of the eMndeni Hostel, Wesselton felt the wrath of the municipality after they were paid a surprise visit by a municipal contractor to perform hostel inspection, investigate and disconnect illegal connections last Friday.
During the inspection, 82 electrical meters were sealed with a unique seal after inspection, 49 households whose power had previously been cut off were still off and some were without electrical meters. 19 meters were tampered with, so they were cut off and the owners were issued with fines for meter tampering. Electrical supply cables were cut off and removed at 58 households.
More than 500 metres of illegal cables were removed, much to the dismay of the dwellers with illegal connections.
Accompanied by members of a local security company, the contractors went from door to door of each unit,inspecting the electrical meters, while a number of enraged dwellers started gathering in small groups, hurling insults at the contract workers and municipal officials. Others tried ripping off their illegal cables before the contractors could do so, but few succeeded.
Previously, municipal workers and contract workers had been attacked while trying to do their job and in some instances they were barred from entering the hostel, which also affected those who had to have new meters installed in their households.
Executive Mayor of Msukaligwa Municipality, Cllr Sipho Bongwe, warned during his budget speech that the municipality would embark on a vigorous campaign to get consumers to pay for municipal services and that those stealing electricity by means of illegal connections would be dealt with harshly.
The municipality has lost more than R80 million through electricity theft and illegal connections in the past three years which has also contributed to the huge balance owed to Eskom.
Msukaligwa Municipality was on the brink of a serious power outage after Eskom had in a checkmate move threatened with power outages of up to eight hours a day during the week and six hours a day over weekends for a R90 950 688 debt owed by the municipality.
Municipal spokesman Mr Mandla Zwane thanked all the law-biding citizens for heeding the call and paying on time.
He said more than 100 whistle-blowers responded to the municipal call to report anyone with illegal connections and those tampering with meters.
One of the whistle blowers reported 14 and eight have already been confirmed.
The municipality is still investigating the others.
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