City Power removes R2.5m worth of illegal cables in Tshepisong
The entity also restored power in the area after they were suspended from all services due to threats and intimidations of operators.
City Power has successfully conducted an operation to remove dangerous and illegal electricity connections in Tshepisong, resulting in the removal and confiscation of more than 55 tons of aluminium cable and wire, with an estimated street value of R2.5m.
Stolen streetlight poles were also recovered and confiscated.
The operation took place on Friday, July 25, after it was postponed the previous day, due to safety concerns.
The safety concern issues came after the operation was suspended from all services due to incidents of intimidation, threats, and serious safety risks directed at operators, alongside high levels of meter bypassing and illegal connections.
• Also read: City Power cancels illegal connections cut-off due to safety concerns
According to City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena, after this operation, power was restored in the area and Leratong Village under strict conditions.
“The restoration of power supply is being done in collaboration with Eskom, which is responsible for energising the area from their side. Once this process is complete, City Power will proceed with the installation of 12 000 meters and the implementation of the normalisation process. Thereafter, residents should start paying for electricity.
“During the normalisation process, eligible indigent households will be assisted with registering for the Free Basic Electricity programme. This initiative targets vulnerable groups such as unemployed individuals, pensioners, child-headed households, and those earning less than R7 503.01 per month. Indigent customers will be exempt from the R70 service charge and the R130 network capacity charge, saving them up to R200 monthly.
Residents should prepare the following documents for registration:
• South African ID
• City Power prepaid meter number
• proof of income
• proof of address
• proof of SASSA grant (if applicable)
• bank statements for the past three months,
• City of Johannesburg rates and taxes account
He added that this marks the first step in a long-term plan to fully normalise electricity supply in Tshepisong and Leratong Village because they were one of the communities that were not paying for electricity.
“City Power will also begin repairing damaged and vandalised infrastructure, as part of an agreement with ward councillors and community leaders.”
Between January and May, City Power installed over 20 pole-mounted transformers valued at R400 00 each in Tshepisong as part of the electrification and infrastructure recovery plan. Despite these efforts, only 3% of residents are buying electricity legally, while the majority continue to bypass meters, leading to major revenue losses and threatening the network’s sustainability.
He said the entity will conduct weekly monitoring of illegal connections, and any found will be removed immediately, with power supply cut off again for an extended period if necessary.
The operation was conducted alongside JMPD and various police units.
