The metro has recorded close to R800-million a year in non-technical electricity losses, caused among other factors by illegal power connections across Ekurhuleni.<\/p>\n
The municipality has undertaken rolling operations of disconnecting illegal connections and arresting suspected syndicates.<\/p>
In November alone, close to 30 arrests of perpetrators who illegally tampered with electrical infrastructure have been made.<\/p>\n
These arrests were made during raids to disconnect illegal connections led by the metro\u2019s energy department and the EMPD to curb unlawful connections.<\/p>
The metro has resorted to using a harsher possible criminal justice process by using the new legislative framework (Criminal Matters Amendment Act No 18 of 2015).<\/p>\n
Initially, people accused of tampering with electrical equipment could be released on bail by a police officer or a prosecutor as the crime was deemed a minor offence.<\/p>\n
The amended legislation provides that bail for people accused of crimes related to essential infrastructures, such as water and electricity installations, may only be considered by a court, not police officers or prosecutors.<\/p>\n
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ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n State-of-the-art building helps urban renewal of Germiston<\/a><\/p>\n You can pay your municipal bill while buying your groceries<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The legislation has also provided for harsher minimum sentences ranging from three to seven years for some essential infrastructure crimes, and regulated theft of ferrous or non-ferrous metal which formed part of essential infrastructure.<\/p>\n Municipal officials, contractors and companies that connect illegally to the power grid will face the harshest offences created by the legislation.<\/p>\n The MMC for Water, Sanitation and Energy, Clr Tiisetso Nketle, said the metro has adopted a hard-line approach to the illegal connection of electricity.<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition to the use of the criminal justice system to curb illegal connections, customers who are found to have connected illegally will face a back-billing from the day they stopped purchasing electricity,\u201d Nketle said.<\/p>\n In addition, the costs of disconnection and re-instating a legal connection to a business customer are borne by the concerned customer.<\/p>\n Those who want to avoid the consequences of illegal connections can visit the nearest energy depot to normalise their connections.<\/p>\n Residents are encouraged to report any illegal connections or suspicion of illegal connection activities through the municipal call centre on 086 054 3000.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n