This translates to losses of about R2.8-m to R4.9-m, which the metro suffers per month. According to Sam Modiba, metro spokesperson: “Ideally, this is the money which could otherwise be channelled towards service delivery projects.”
In a bid to address this huge loss, the city has embarked on a campaign to educate communities about the adverse effects of illegal connections.
Member of Mayoral Committee for Water and Energy, Clr Aubrey Nxumalo, accompanied by the Red Ant Security Services, members of the SAPS and EMPD, visited the Dukathole informal settlement, in Germiston, to educate residents on the financial and social costs that the illegal connection trade has on the metro and its people.
Nxumalo said, on the day: “It is estimated that there are 14 000 illegal connections in the city and these are causing excessive strain on the local authority’s power supply.
“These connections pose a danger to innocent children and community members, while they destroy the economy and reduce work opportunities, as well as destroying power infrastructure.
“Infrastructure damage due to illegal connections is evident in areas like KwaThema Extension Three, where an overhead transformer was replaced nine times in 2011.
“We want to educate the community of Ekurhuleni about risks involved through illegal connections.
“At the same time, we are preparing them for a major law enforcement operation that will follow within the next few weeks – focusing on disconnecting illegal connections.
“We need to develop our city and we cannot afford to lose millions of Rand due to illegal connections.”
The MMC further said perpetrators of illegal connection have a few weeks to get their houses in order, because phase two will not only be the removal of illegally connected cables, but offenders will be arrested.
This education drive will continue throughout the city, including Edenvale, Springs, Benoni and Boksburg.
