The MMC for Water, Sanitation, and Energy in the City of Ekurhuleni Senzi Sibeko held an illegal connections dialogue to enlighten citizens about the scourge’s repercussions.
He said: “Illegal connections and vandalism hugely impacts on not only the City’s electricity grid and infrastructure but can result in unwanted outages impacting on residents, business and even hospitals”.
On July 27, MMC Sibeko was talking to people at Phola Park, an area known for its illegal connections.
MMC Sibeko said: “It is a crime to illegally connect and damage the City of Ekurhuleni (#COE) infrastructure.”
Mziyanda Mketsu, a councillor for Ward 53, followed MMC Sibeko on the site visit, when he spoke with the locals about their electric power challenges.
Informal settlements were also included in the inspection.
“Report illegal connections and vandalism of infrastructure to 0860 543 000 or the anti-fraud line on 0800 102 201,” he appealed.
In their campaign against unauthorised connections and unpaid utility accounts by citizens and institutions, the City of Tshwane has also faced a difficult battle.
The City of Tshwane was pleased to announce the disconnection of 800 illegally connected households from a settlement after a tenacious campaign.
The City of Tshwane Municipality removed electrical infrastructure worth an estimated R400 000 on Tuesday, July 19 from the Brazzaville informal settlement.
Democratic Alliance (DA) applauded this. The party maintained that illicit links must be tolerated because they hurt neighbourhood businesses and have a detrimental effect on the local economy.
The party added that it is also unfair for paying citizens and business owners to have to suffer from an unstable network as a result of illegal connections.