VANDERBIJLPARK – Lights have been switched off at several Vanderbijlpark flat complexes after Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) officials uncovered illegal electricity connections draining millions of rand from municipal coffers.
The crackdown has exposed a staggering R60.1m debt owed by eight residential complexes in the CW area, with the municipality losing more than R1.3m a month in electricity revenue and another R350 000 in water revenue.
On Monday, an entourage of law enforcers, including ELM’s Electrical and Revenue departments, contractors, the South African Police Service and Gauteng Traffic Wardens raided the targeted buildings and homes.
The operation followed a tip-off from residents, prompting a multidisciplinary team to investigate suspected illegal connections and non-payment.
During the operation, officials removed illegal C-flex cables and circuit breakers used in the unlawful electricity connections.
According to the municipality, the disconnected complexes included hijacked buildings, ordinary buildings and households.
In a statement, Teboho Morobi from ELM’s Revenue Department said the operation exposed how some consumers were allegedly stealing electricity and driving up municipal bills.
“Today is a productive day for the municipality. We uncovered how some consumers in CW5, Ferranti Street, are stealing electricity and ballooning the bill. Residents are urged to refrain from these deliberate acts of lawlessness,” he said.
The municipality said the operation was the first of several planned interventions targeting illegal connections and unpaid municipal accounts across Emfuleni.
Affected complexes have been urged to contact the Finance and Revenue Department to arrange electricity restoration.
However, the municipality warned that only property owners or body corporates may negotiate directly with the department.
Tenants wishing to negotiate must provide a valid proxy, a certified police affidavit, and a copy of the property owner’s identity document.
Officials expect more unannounced operations across the municipality as they intensify efforts to clamp down on illegal connections and recover outstanding revenue.
The municipality has also urged residents to take responsibility for the services they consume, warning that illegal connections and non-payment undermine service delivery.
