Electricity theft continues
Businesses are suffering as power theft continues unchecked on the South Coast. sugan naidoo sugann@dbn.caxton.co.za
ILLEGAL electrical connections have impacted on many businesses in Marburg and Margate and recently affected some houses in the Umtentweni area.
New to the art of connecting cables and stealing electricity, Louisiana has now joined the list of affected areas.
Nearby houses have experienced losses from electricity tampering and TVs, stoves, hi-fis have blown.
The transformer is cause for concern, as the surrounding houses fear the possibility of a disaster waiting to happen. Just recently a goat and a dog have died after being electrocuted by open wires in Louisiana.
A businessman who travels past Louisiana every day said the transformer had blown after being tampered with. The pole is still there, and the wires are just dangling.
In Marburg an Eskom transformer, situated on Multiwood’s premises has several illegal connections which supply power to Mkholombe.
The business has had no power since last Monday due to the illegal connections.
The company has asked Eskom to remove the transformer from a low lying area into their property near the warehouse where it will be protected.
Eskom has not responded.
“Illegal connections overload the network, which results in unplanned outages. This affects the smooth operating of our business,” said Wayne Wessels, from Multiwood.
Two weeks ago a man was electrocuted while trying to connect electricity from a transformer in Uvongo.
“Eskom works closely with municipalities to ensure that all connections undertaken are in support of their Integrated Development Plan (IDP),” said spokesman Joyce Zingoni.
“Eskom, however, does not have a mandate to connect people in areas that have been declared un-proclaimed and these areas pose the highest risk for illegal connections. Among the many initiatives that have been rolled out, last year, with the joint efforts of various business organisations and Eskom, Operation Khanyisa was launched to sensitise the public about illegal connections and the impact on the electricity supply chain as well as the loss of lives as a result,” she said.
Eskom deploys permanent teams of inspectors and employees around the country to undertake audits and remove illegal connections.
Eskom encourages anyone with information on illegal connections to report them to 08600 ESKOM or 08600 37566. Alternatively, sms Crime Line at 32211 (costs R1/sms). All whistle-blowers will remain anonymous.
The Herald would like to thank Lazer 911 officers who escorted the Herald reporter and staff from Multiwood into Mkholombe near Bhobhoyi on Monday this week.
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