eMBALENHLE – Izinyoka nyoka angers those who are buying and paying for their electricity.
Residents are upset, because of electricity theft and illegal connections in Mandela Section and Extension 22.
They said this results in constant power failures in the area which put their lives on hold and negatively affect their businesses.
A local businesswoman said they have reported the matter to the municipality, but nothing has yet been done.
She said municipal officials were there, but did not do anything, because the electricity poles are not stable.
She said the nearby shacks do not have legal electricity connections, but they do have electricity.
“What is the municipality doing about this?
“We are paying electricity and water rates while others are living for free.
“The municipality must take action against this.”
The residents confronted those who are stealing electricity, but were threatened with witchcraft.
The residents said there are specialists who are well known for doing this.
The Govan Mbeki Municipality believes that cable theft negatively affects the economic activities of the municipality.
In a press statement the municipality said the police should ensure that those responsible for this crime, are arrested and jailed.
“What is disturbing, is that this crime is committed by people living in our communities and they also complain, like law-abiding citizens, about electricity outages, yet they are the perpetrators.”
The municipality said in order to fight this successfully, residents should expose these criminals.
“If we can all adopt this community stance against cable theft in particular and all crime in general, we can go a long way in defeating criminals in our midst.
“The office of the executive mayor will be embarking on a series of programmes this year and the Anti-Crime Campaign will form part of these activities.
“The cable theft crime will be highlighted as one of the crimes affecting the economic development and growth of this municipality.”
