The Endumeni Municipality is to spend R1,2 million on a private auditing firm who will check all electricity meters in the municipal area in a bid to end illegal power connections currently costing R14-million a year – this figure is expected to escalate to R23-million.

No municipality – especially a small one like Endumeni with  a budget of around R250-million – can tolerate such a huge chunk of revenue going missing.

In the past the political will to clamp down on offenders has been weak.  A limp-wristed approach to electricity theft will not help.

Firm measures have to be taken to cut out the illegal connections.  There is, of course, also the safety aspect to consider.  Electrical wiring criss-crosses the townships putting in danger children and adults.

The challenge is there.  The days of free power must end.