VIDEO: Eskom to launch community campaign against theft, vandalism in Tshwane and North West

Eskom will host community engagements in Tshwane and North West as it continues to battle infrastructure theft and vandalism.

The engagements in Stinkwater, Klipgat, north of Pretoria and Moloto and Mmakau in North West will focus on how to qualify for free basic electricity, how to claim it, the dangers of illegal connections and buying from ghost electricity vendors.

Gauteng Eskom spokesperson Amanda Qithi said the engagements were at a time when the power utility was facing significant challenges with theft and vandalism of infrastructure.

Qithi said Eskom was burdened by the cost of illegal connections, customers bypassing meters or buying their electricity from ghost vendors.

She said illegal connections were a prevalent problem in many parts of Gauteng, particularly informal settlements.

#EskomAtWork #EskomGauteng #StopIllegalConnections pic.twitter.com/ZaMmqFunUO

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) September 18, 2023

She said the engagement was looking at creating awareness around illegal electricity-related acts that had detrimental impacts on the economy and Eskom.

“The theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure have a severe impact on the distribution network such as frequent power outages due to stolen cables or damaged equipment leading to blackouts, affecting businesses, hospitals, schools, and daily life for residents.

“The constant need for repairs and replacements due to theft and vandalism places a considerable financial burden on the power utility.”

She said tampering with electrical equipment posed a significant safety risk to communities.

“Eskom has recently commenced with a summer electricity safety awareness campaign to try and curb these illegal electricity activities.”

She said during the engagements Eskom will assess customers for eligibility for free electricity.

The engagements schedule for Tshwane is as follows:

– October 16 – Mmakau, Thethele Mmakau

– October 17 – Stinkwater, Lorarong primary school

– October 18 – Klipgat, Shoprite parking area

– October 19 – Moloto, Makhosonke sports ground.

All engagements will be from 10:00 to 12:00.

Recently Eskom was horrified to learn about an illegal connection to substations in the north via social media.

WATCH: 

A man, believed to be Thulani Ngobeni – posted a voice message in which he says while Ga-Rankuwa complains about load-shedding, it has failed to report illegal connections.

Ngobeni alleged that the connections feed an informal settlement and law enforcement has turned a blind eye.

He further claimed that Ga-Rankuwa was riddled with such connections, “which is unfortunate as lives are at stake”.

Qithi said the power utility, giving the video urgency and attention, ensured that four alleged perpetrators of illegal connections were arrested in Kagisanong View, Ga-Rankuwa following an Eskom network audit.

She said an Eskom network audit in Kagisanong View, Ga-Rankuwa on September 12 established that the four had illegally connected to a transformer in the north industrial area.

She said during the audit, Eskom technicians found that the entire neighbourhood had a self-built illegal electricity network connected to four Eskom transformers around the Ga-Rankuwa industrial area.

#EskomGauteng spokesperson, Amanda Qithi has confirmed that through collaboration with the @SAPoliceService, three arrests have been made relating to the illegal connections from the video that was circulating on the socials. #KagisanongView #StopIllegalConnections pic.twitter.com/H1bZXAQUVq

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) September 18, 2023

Mams residents partake in Stop GBV fun walk

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