The City of Ekurhuleni loses close to R800-million a year in unaccounted for electricity caused by illegal connections across the city.
To fight this scourge, the City moved into Dukathole Informal Settlement in Germiston in the early hours of Tuesday morning to remove illegal connections.
The illegally connected power cables mostly ran underground and were removed by a multi-disciplinary operation led by the City’s energy department and Ekurhuleni Metro Police.
#CoEillegalPowerCuts #Dukathole #Germiston pic.twitter.com/aYrmO0OAeC
— CITY OF EKURHULENI (@City_Ekurhuleni) August 21, 2018
The operation was necessary to restore a fully functional electrical network in the area after four transformers exploded recently due to heavy load caused by the illegal connections, said Themba Gadebe, spokesperson for the metro.
“The operation was part of the City’s plans to ensure that all illegal connections have been uprooted before technicians commence with upgrading the damaged infrastructure. The illegal connections are the main cause of the overloaded electricity supply grid which results in persistent power supply interruptions experienced in the area.
Chief Area engineer Peter Khunou: We urge residents of Ekurhuleni to work with us and avoid connecting power illegally. Four transformers have to be replaced on Dukathole. One costs close to half a million rand. #CoEillegalPowerCuts pic.twitter.com/0uECq0GuoJ
— CITY OF EKURHULENI (@City_Ekurhuleni) August 21, 2018
“Electrical infrastructure components such as transformers, switchgear and cables have also been destroyed. Meters for the illegal connections were also discovered,” Gadebe said.
Plans are underway to install new transformers and other damaged electrical equipment to stabilise the supply of electricity.
However, in order to do so we need to work on a network that has not been tampered with through illegal connections, hence we started with the disconnection operation,” MMC for water, sanitation and energy Clr Tiisetso Nketle said.
Residents are encouraged to report any illegal connection or suspicion of illegal connection activities through the municipal call centre on 086 054 3000.
Chief Khunou: Think of young children who play over such wires unknowingly #CoEillegalPowerCuts #Dukathole #Germiston pic.twitter.com/kKwDfyfJIp
— CITY OF EKURHULENI (@City_Ekurhuleni) August 21, 2018
