Cables worth R360 000 confiscated after operation
ZANDSPRUIT – City Power, Eskom and law enforcement agencies recovered 16 tons of cables worth R 360 000 after an operation in Zandspruit.
A man was found with an Eskom transformer in his house in Zandspruit and was arrested by police during an operation to remove illegal electricity connections.
The operation was conducted by City Power, Eskom, Honeydew police, Honeydew Community Policing Forum (CPF) patrollers, contractors, security companies and Metro police on November 25. The operation was conducted along Beyers Naude Drive between Peter Road and Johan Road.
“It was a joint venture between City Power, Eskom and law enforcement agencies. It went well and we managed to cut off about 16 tons of cables and also exposed wires that were used to connect electricity illegally, both on Eskom and City Power transformers in the area,” said City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena.
He said the cables that were confiscated were worth about R360 000.
“This person [man arrested] had connected this transformer. It was in his house and he was distributing and selling electricity to the residents in the area. They pay him monthly for the electricity that is being distributed using this stolen transformer.” He said the suspect’s accomplices had fled during the operation.
He said Zandspruit was one of the hotspots of illegal connections in Johannesburg and the power utility was losing revenue due to this. Honeydew Police Station spokesperson, Captain Bulan Muthan confirmed a man was arrested and charged for being in possession of City Power property.
Honeydew CPF public relations officer Michael Steyn said the operation would ensure that community members and children in the area were safe. “Illegal connections are dangerous and so often we see children get hurt in informal settlements where these cables are running,” he added.
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