The City of Cape Town recorded 230 incidents of electricity vandalism and illegal connections in the last quarter of 2022 at a cost of approximately R2,5 million. The metro's Area North was the worst affected this time with an increase in cases during October to December 2022, and the Mowbray and Gugulethu districts being especially impacted. Read more below:

The City has attended to hundreds of faults in recent months and disconnects illegal connections to City infrastructure across the metro on a regular basis.

‘The City has embarked on enhanced initiatives, including earmarking approximately R40 million to help curb and prevent vandalism of critical energy infrastructure in communities. This is part of the approved 2022/23 budget, which came into effect on 1 July 2022. In the 2021/22 financial year, more than R50 million was spent on repairing and replacing damaged electricity infrastructure in areas across the metro.

'Illegal connections and damage to electricity infrastructure continue to be a challenge in the city, as it often results in constant electricity outages in affected areas, both City and Eskom-supplied. We cannot allow this criminality to continue. Repairs of the same vandalised infrastructure is not feasible, places pressure on City resources and negatively impacts our residents. Criminals have seemingly taken advantage of Eskom’s near constant load-shedding over recent months to strike under the cover of darkness.

'We need the support of community members to put an end to this scourge and we urge residents to help us bring criminals to book by reporting illegal electricity connections to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the City. We are offering a reward of R5 000 to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest, confiscation of stolen or illegal goods or the handing-in of illegal or stolen goods. This reward is also applicable to information leading to the arrest of people vandalising, damaging or stealing electricity infrastructure or installing illegal connections. We call on communities across the metro to work with us to help protect electricity infrastructure,' said the City of Cape Town's Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen.

Report damage to municipal electrical infrastructure:

• SMS: 31220

• Email: power@capetown.gov.za

Anonymous tip-offs welcomed

Reward of R5 000 if tip offs lead to arrests.

Call: 0800 1100 77

Source: City Of Cape Town