Only 3 criminal cases opened as Ekurhuleni’s power grid fails under weight of illegal connections
By Cllr. Hector Bogopane — DA City of Ekurhuleni PR Councillor
Date: 10 Oct 2024
Release: Immediate
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni demands that immediate action is taken against those guilty of illegal connections. In the last financial year, only three cases were opened for illegal connections, illustrating the lack of urgency and action from the ANC-EFF coalition.
The ANC-EFF coalition running the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) has, through their inaction, become responsible for allowing persistent proliferation of illegal electricity connections to overwhelm our city.
Not only does this place strain on our electrical infrastructure, but it also negatively impacts revenue collection.
Despite the assurances made by the MMC for Community Safety, Cllr. Sizakele Masuku, the situation remains unresolved. In the last council meeting, the MMC outlined the department’s plans, including the removal of illegal connections, meter audits, and the electrification of informal settlements.
While these measures are necessary, they have not been rolled where the rot is most prevalent.
When questioned as to why the department’s initiatives have stalled, once again the feeble excuse of “lack of funding” is given. This reflects a broader failure in strategic planning and resource allocation within the department.
An easy win would be to arrest those who connect to the network illegally, but it seems even this straight-forward solution proves to be too much for them to handle.
The DA demands that the MMC and his department take immediate, decisive action to escalate the fight against illegal connections. Criminality must be met with the firm hand of the law. It is imperative that the department steps up enforcement efforts. Failure to do so will continue to bleed the city’s coffers dry and leave residents worse off for it.
We will always stand against the breakers, no matter the cost. The builders must win.
Media Enquiries:
Cllr. Hector Bogopane
DA City of Ekurhuleni PR Councillor
082 648 8070
