Metro’s new centre to curb illegal invasions, connections
“This behaviour constitutes criminality and we will not hesitate to act decisively to bring to book those who have been involved in unlawful and illegal acts."
Residents of the Tshwane metro are urged to utilise its newly established by-law enforcement centre to report illegal invasions of land, buildings and illegal electricity connections in a bid to curb these criminal acts.
“We understand the anger and frustration of residents who have been adversely affected by these criminal and unlawful activities,” metro compliance administrator Lebogang Mahaye said.
The newly established centre – the brainchild of the administrators at the helm of the metro – is expected to serve as the focal point where complaints will be received and interventions coordinated to curb the spate of contraventions and criminality which have plagued the metro.
Mahaye said some parts of the metro were recently plunged into darkness due to a spate in cable thefts and illegal electricity connections.
“Law abiding citizens who are paying for their services have been without electricity due to cable theft and those who have been illegally connecting electricity,” she said, adding these activities had placed a strain on the grid and caused spontaneous power outages.
“This behaviour constitutes criminality and we will not hesitate to act decisively to bring to book those who have been involved in unlawful and illegal acts.
“Some people have been taking advantage of the lockdown to commit crime and contravene the city’s by-laws,” Mahaye said.
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She added that authorities had also received information that some high-rise building owners had allegedly connected electricity, which led to the metro experiencing blackouts.
“It’s totally unacceptable for our residents who are paying for the services to be sitting in darkness in these wintry temperatures due to the illegal activities of a few.”
“We have also experienced a surge in land and building invasions and have vowed to put a stop to these,” she said.
Mahaye again called on residents to be the metro’s eyes and ears and report acts of criminality to the new centre anonymously, adding that the Tshwane metro police would act swiftly and harshly to protect the metro’s assets and infrastructure.
The by-law enforcement centre can be reached on 012-358-7095/96.
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