Electricity theft costing Lukhanji residents
ELECTRICITY theft continues to be a headache for Lukhanji Municipality, which is battling revenue losses and damage to infrastructure. But residents paying for power are also finding that they are bearing the costs of the electricity thieves.
The Rep reported (“Theft bust,” February 10 2012) that the local authority was planning to set up a team of inspectors to check on power installations as part of plans to curb rampant electricity theft. Former provincial auditor Singa Ngqwala said that in the 2010-11 financial year the municipality had incurred distribution losses of about 31% of supply due to technical losses on the existing network, faulty meters, billing errors and theft. In the same period, electricity theft remained the biggest challenge.
At the time, former technical services political head Neli Pambo, together with a team of officials including the late director Piet Bezuidenhout, disconnected eight illegal connections in Newvale. The illegal connections were also dangerous as they were connected directly over the roof.
Bezuidenhout said at the time if the illegal connections were made on to the line of those buying electricity, the thieves ended up using the electricity of those who were paying for it.
This week a man who works as a gardener around town and lives with four others in his home in Newvale said R50 or more of electricity lasted only about two days. The man, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, said he had a television, a refrigerator and a four burner stove. “I suspect the electricity runs out quickly because of this theft. There are people in the area who have vowed they will never buy electricity. They pay the people who work for the municipality to do the illegal connections for them.”
He said he had reported the matter to the municipality but was told by an official they were scared to disconnect as their lives would be at risk.
He said the municipality needed to confiscate electrical boxes when disconnecting culprits. He said it was not only unemployed people who connected illegally. “I know of people who work for government as well as policemen who have illegal connections to their homes.”
Although he had not responded to detailed e-mailed questions sent on April 18, last week Lukhanji spokesman Fundile Feketshane conceded electricity theft was prevalent.
He said the authority was working with law enforcement agencies to apprehend the thieves.
“This doesn’t only cause revenue losses but damages the infrastructure. People, especially children, are vulnerable. We call on everyone to report such incidents so that the wrong-doers can face the full might of the law.”
Feketshane said electrical infrastructure was a community asset and needed to be protected.
Police spokesman lieutenant Namhla Mdleleni said there were no cases of electricity theft opened with them or partnerships with Lukhanji to help curb electricity theft.