Eskom recently encouraged communities to help them in the fight against illegal power connections.
Eskom communication and stakeholder relations department’s Ronel Kotze said Muldersdrift and Nooitgedacht plot owners have been experiencing electricity-supply interruptions due to illegal connections made by land invaders in the area.
Although illegal connections have been removed a number of times, new connections are made all the time.
“This results in damage to electricity infrastructure such as transformers, mini-substations and substations. Coupled with the rise in illegal and unauthorised operations on the Eskom network, other criminal activities have increased in these areas,” she said.
Subsequently a number of residents contacted the News to find out how they could help.
Illegal connections and meter tampering are among the main reasons for the deaths and injuries of many innocent people, often children, due to electrocution.
For this reason Eskom welcomes the cooperation of the residents as their lives are put at risk by these illegal connections.
Community members who notice any illegal activities are urged to report it to Eskom’s Contact Centre on 08600 37566 (ESKOM), or Eskom’s Crime Line on 0800 11 27 22, This number is toll-free and confidential. Also send an email to RandfonteinEnquiries@eskom.co.za or customerservices@eskom.co.za.
Other ways that residents can help:
• Warn others about the dangers of illegal electricity related activities and connections.
• Educate children about the dangers of the illegal connections, and that they should not attempt to remove them but to report them.
• Advocate the legal use of electricity and paying for your electricity usage.
• Don’t climb in trees or on other structures that are close to illegal connections.
• Report all unauthorised people operating on the Eskom electricity infrastructure.
• Spread the message that types of electricity theft which include illegal connections, meter tampering and bypassing; buying and selling illegal prepaid vouchers through ghost vending; infrastructure vandalism; and theft are all criminal acts and punishable by law.
