More than 12 tonnes of illegal electrical cables were disconnected and confiscated during the Operation O kae Molao at Vusumuzi Section in Tembisa, to root out illegal electricity connections.

Illegal electricity connections and tempering have caused many power supply interruptions across the City due to overloaded grid at affected areas.

This results in damage to electricity supply infrastructure, such as transformers and even leads to frustrations from citizens who have to go for lengthy periods without power supply.

Replacing a damaged transformer or power distribution lines is a costly and lengthy process.

The operation to remove illegal connections in the area was a whole day operation on 23 July 2018. A team of more than 200 personnel, comprising of City officials, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department, South African Police Service and private security formed part of the operation this morning.

The connections were removed from the Vusumuzi and Ehlanzeni Hostels, Vusumuzi informal settlement and surrounding areas.

The City of Ekurhuleni loses about R800 million per year in electricity theft, in addition to losses related to damage to critical electricity distribution infrastructure.

The City has intensified the electricity disconnection operations in recent months.