The City of Cape Town’s Electricity Generation and Distribution Department carried out another successful illegal connection removal operation in Mfuleni and in the vicinity. The City carries out regular operations in various areas in the metro and continues to monitor hotspots.

The City is ramping up its efforts to protect critical electricity infrastructure and to remove illegal connections in various areas. Safety and Security teams continue to be deployed to help guard infrastructure especially during the higher stages of load-shedding.

‘Illegal connections place tremendous strain on the electricity grid and result in severe damage to infrastructure in communities. In Mfuleni in particular, illegal connections often cause constant and prolonged electricity outages. Sadly, illegal connections are often reconnected as soon as our teams leave the area and often place the supply to residents at risk. During this successful operation, our teams confiscated a large amount of electricity cable used for illegal connections.

‘The City will not give up, our teams are on the ground and we will continue to disconnect illegal connections. We also call on residents to report vandalism and illegal connections to the City and South African Police Service. Together, we can end the scourge and we thank residents for their continuous support.

‘The City is also carrying out its vandalism awareness and education drive in communities to inform residents about the impact and cost of vandalism in their area and how money spent on fixing vandalised infrastructure could be spent on delivering more and enhanced services,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Beverley van Reenen.

Help the City bring an end to infrastructure vandalism and illegal connections:

The City is offering a reward 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.

The South African Police Service is the lead authority in crime prevention.

Report damage to municipal electrical infrastructure:

SMS: 31220

Email: power@capetown.gov.za

Anonymous tip-offs welcomed:

Residents can give anonymous tip offs if they are aware of illegal activity, such as illegal connections or unlawful occupations, that are taking place; that has happened or is still to happen. Please call 112 from a cell phone (toll free) and 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 for emergencies.

Source: City Of Cape Town