City of Tshwane employee disconnecting electricity during the #TshwaneYaTima campaign. Image via Twitter/@CityTshwane
City of Tshwane: R400k worth of stolen electrical infrastructure seized
The City of Tshwane disconnected 800 illegal connections and removed stolen electrical infrastructure worth an estimated R500 000.
City of Tshwane employee disconnecting electricity during the #TshwaneYaTima campaign. Image via Twitter/@CityTshwane
The City of Tshwane Municipality has removed an estimated R400 000 worth of stolen electrical infrastructure in Brazzaville informal settlement during an operation to disconnect electricity on Tuesday, 19 July.
Working together with the Tshwane Metro Police Department and the South African Police Service in Danville, the City was able to disconnect 800 illegal electricity connections in Brazzaville.
CITY OF TSHWANE REMOVES R400 000 WORTH INFRASTRUCTURE
City of Tshwane MMC for Utilities and Regional Operations Daryl Johnston said the illegal connections were connected to the Phelindaba overhead line which supplies areas such as Schuverberg AH and other nearby businesses.
Johan said that the illegal connections had a negative effect on the supply of electricity in the area to residential and commercial consumers.
During the operation at Brazzaville, an estimated R400 000 of electrical material was removed including 11kV overhead lines, aluminium conductors and aluminium aerial bundle conductors. The City of Tshwane team also removed three medium-voltage transformers.
Johnston said illegal connections are the reason many areas experience power trips after load shedding which result in extended power outages. He added that this is made worse by the theft of the City’s infrastructure such as cables, conductors and transformers.
“Ilegal connections cost the City of Tshwane hundreds of millions of rands in damages to infrastructure and repair costs. These result in significant non revenue losses that destroy the City of Tshwane’s finances.
“It is therefore important that we do everything possible to prevent this scourge. This latest operation is just of the many the City is participating in to protect our electricity infrastructure.”
City of Tshwane MMC for Utilities and Regional Operations
The City has been intensifying its aggressive revenue collection campaign #TshwaneYaTima where it disconnects businesses including government departments, shopping centres as well as estates.
MMC for Finance, Peter Sutton recently asserted that they will not hesitate to disconnect those who have run a high bill and are not paying for services.
“Once more, we intend to go after all debtors as they cannot continue to consume our services for free. All debtors have an obligation to pay the City for services rendered.
“As we intensify our revenue-collection campaign, the City would like to remind residents and clients of our municipal account payment options.”
Peter Sutton
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