MMC leads the cut-off operation of illegal connections in Kya Sand
Officials from City Power escorted by JMPD disconnected illegal connections in Kya Sand Industrial Park.
In an effort to remove illegal power connections, City Power embarked on a cut-off operation in Kya Sand.
On August 18, the Randburg Service Delivery Centre, led by the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Service Jack Sekwaila, saw illegal connections – also known as izinyoka – disconnected from the area’s industrial park.
They were escorted by Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers.
Sekwaila said on August 17, he paid a visit to the industrial park with MMC for Finance Dada Morero to conduct inspections and communicate with business owners who complained about the illegal connections.
“We have a large number of factories operating here,” Sekwaila said. “As a result, the city relies on this revenue that comes from this business community.”
He reiterated that there will be a follow-up mechanism to disconnect the cables. “There’s a new security system that will come into place in the next two weeks so that we can begin to arrest the criminals who are operating in electricity theft.”
During the cut-off operation, 4km of aerial bundle cables were cut off from six warehouses.
On-site, City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena told Randburg Sun that the operation was to assure business owners that the power entity has heard their concerns and is determined to address them.
“The mini-substation where they used to connect illegally will now be moved inside the business parks so that they can’t be easily accessible,” he said.
“We’re doing this because we need these businesses as part of the city’s investment, but also because of the job opportunities that they provide to the residents of the area across the city.”
According to him, the illegal connections are overloading the system, which results in frequent network trips which in turn affects the integrity of the network and electrical appliances in the businesses.
Mangena added, “City Power loses about R4 billion annually due to illegal connections, and it’s a serious problem because that is the money that we could have used to reinvest in the infrastructure, to buy mini sub-stations that blow up, but also to electrify those who don’t have electricity.”
He said that in the coming weeks, the power entity will begin with a big cut-off operation in informal settlements in the area to remove the cables and wires used for illegal connections.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said, “JMPD officers were part of the cut-off operation to provide safety and security for the officials that were present
on-site.”
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MMC leads the cut-off operation of illegal connections in Kya Sand
