Media statement 27 September 2023
Cllr Themba Fosi
MMC for Utilities and Regional Operations and Coordination
Yesterday, in my capacity as MMC for Utility Services I conducted an oversight visit to various parts of Soshanguve to inspect the state of our critical infrastructure in the area. I’m pleased to report that we have teams on the ground in Soshanguve attending to outages and doing repairs so that power can be restored to affected areas.
However, during the same oversight visit our teams encountered an incident of illegal electricity connection in Tswaing Block F, where a community member attempted to connect to our electrical grid without proper authorisation.
The individual in question had purchased a transformer from one of our contractors and was in the process of tapping into our infrastructure when the City’s personnel intervened.
In adherence to our commitment to law and order, we promptly contacted the Rietgat South African Police Service (SAPS) who subsequently arrested the suspect.
This incident serves as a stark reminder that illegal electricity connections continue to undermine the City’s ability to provide safe and reliable electricity to all residents.
Illegal connections also have financial implications as it costs the city millions annually to repair damaged infrastructure, funds that could have been used to improve service delivery for our people.
We remain committed to working together with communities and law enforcement to identify and prosecute those involved in illegal electricity connections.
The City extends its appreciation to SAPS for their swift response and cooperation in this matter. Together, we will ensure that our electricity infrastructure remains secure and serves all residents, legally and safely.
Enquiries: MMC Themba Fosi (thembamandlaf@tshwane.gov.za)