By Everson Luhanga
Johannesburg City Power disconnected a web of illegal electricity connections on Wednesday in Tembisa’s Kanana Section.
City Power workers, guarded by Metro Police and SAPS, cut off illegal connections and confiscated around 18,000kg worth of aluminium cable conductors from the Kanana informal settlement in Rabie Ridge.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the operation was part of the entity’s plan of reducing “excessive electricity consumption” – or demand beyond what the entity could supply.
He said residents of the informal settlement have been tapping into the network unlawfully, destroying infrastructure and stealing electricity, contributing to overloading that tripped power in formalised housing.
“Since the start of the year, City Power has had to replace eight transformers in the area that were damaged by illegal connections. At the moment, three additional transformers need to be replaced in Rabie Ridge that were also affected by overloading.
“One person was arrested for connecting electricity illegally, with several others arrested in possession of stolen cables used to connect power illegally. Most of these aerial bundle cables are stolen from the streetlights across the city.”
City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava said that while it’s important to actively remove illegal connections, it’s just a short-term solution.
“Illegal connections are part of a bigger housing challenge that must be addressed, to enable us to bring in electricity services in some of these informal settlements.
“We have emphasised that it would work in our favour to have the 321 informal settlements in the City of Johannesburg electrified, as we will be able to quantify the capacity needed, and gain revenue from electricity purchases.
“This past financial year, we managed to electrify four informal settlements, namely: Slovo Park, Princess Plot, Matholesville and Kliptown,” said Mashava.
For City Power to connect electricity services, the Department of Human Settlements must first certify the area to be habitable as part of the formalisation process.
Once the area is formalised, City Power can bring in power supply services, subject to budget availability.
Pictured above: City Power officials with a web of wires after disconnecting izinyoka.
Source: City Power
