A team of Eskom officials and technicians led by energy trading manager, Lethekwane Mothogoane removed illegal electricity connections that pose a danger to the community and revenue losses to the power utility.

According to Eskom, illegal connections injure and kill hundreds of people every year, while countless others are severely injured from electrocution.

Illegal connections are also the leading cause of unplanned power outages.

“In today’s technologically-driven environment, energy is a valuable resource that needs to be controlled with increased efficiency in order to ensure a reduction in losses, while conserving energy and lowering the peak demand,” said Modjadji Baloyi of Eskom Limpopo Operating Unit, Communication and Stakeholder Management.

Baloyi said that energy theft is a bigger challenge that affects the economy, causing huge revenue losses.

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“It overloads the networks, interrupts power supply and may cause harm to the community,” she said.

She said that the Energy Losses Programme undertaken in Ben Farm was aimed at ensuring that those that have connected themselves illegally in their areas are disconnected to ensure the safe use of electricity.

She said that some households were found with direct connections and with no meters inside their houses.

“The sad reality is that some of the residents have people who continuously connect them illegally and are refusing to give their names.

However, Eskom will continue to audit and also revisit the previously-audited sites especially those that were found to be using electricity illegally, to ensure the safety of the community.”

In Mopani alone, the illegal connections are a serious problem and are also costing Eskom millions of Rand in lost revenue.

“These illegal connections often result in serious injury or even fatalities.”

She further said that Eskom will continue to prioritise recovering these losses and to clean areas that are using electricity illegally.

Customers, who come forward and declare themselves for stealing electricity, will be exonerated so that they can use electricity legally.

“The customer education and awareness campaigns will also continue in the area through the traditional council engagements and community radio stations to emphasise the dangers of using electricity illegally,” she said.

Report illegal connections by sending an anonymous SMS to on 32211 or calling 0800 1127 22.