Mayor warn community about theft of electricity
“Our electricity loss of about 25 per cent is unacceptable,” said Mashaba. Last year June, the municipality reported that it was losing more than R3 million a month due to illegal connections.
Umjindi Local Municipality executive mayor, councillor Lazaros Mashaba, said the theft of and tampering with electricity could no longer be tolerated.
Mashaba said communities should know that the culture of payment of services was a prerequisite for sustainable development.
“Those that are unable to pay because of the myriad of socio-economic challenges should register as municipal indigents. There is an indigent policy in place and an administrative process through which indigent applicants can benefit from a government subsidy,” said Mashaba.
He said he would implore and encourage their respective ward councillors to be vigilant and oversee such misdemeanors (theft and tampering of electricity).
“Our electricity loss of about 25 per cent is unacceptable,” said Mashaba. Last year June, the municipality reported that it was losing more than R3 million a month due to illegal connections.
Residents were called upon to report these acts to the police or the municipal call centre on 013-712-2222.
A full-scale operation by the Umjindi council in collaboration with the SAPS had been conducted in the past to remove illegal connections in Emjindini.
This was after two children – Prince Mkhonto, a grade R pupil at Amon Nkosi Primary School who resided in Extension 11 and nine-year-old Siphosetfu Masango of Phola Park who was in grade two in Ekuchathuzeni Primary School – lost their lives due to illegal electricity connections.
