What to look out for

ILLEGAL CONNECTIONS

Electricity theft kills and injures many innocent children and toddlers every year. Illegal connections are extremely dangerous because incorrect wiring is used, and the wires running across floors, pathways or streets are often not insulated.

In most cases, the earth leakage unit, which serves as protection against any accidental contact, is bypassed.

People and animals are at risk of death or serious injury if they come into contact with these wires. In most instances, it is young children who are the innocent victims of illegal connections.

ILLEGAL PREPAID VOUCHERS

According to Operation Khanyisa, a national partnership campaign aimed at fighting electricity theft, millions of Rands in revenue is lost each year as a result of the illegal buying and selling of prepaid electricity vouchers issued through stolen prepaid Credit Dispensing Units (also known as Ghost CDUs). Around 120 arrests have been made over the past three years, with 87 cases and convictions on matters relating to illegal vending. Operation Khanyisa is working with the South African Police Service and the Hawks to recover a number of Ghost CDUs that are still in the hands of either individual criminals and/or syndicates.

METER TAMPERING

One of the myths about electricity theft is that it is “township problem”. The reality is very different. Electricity theft is happening everywhere, including in business, industry and commerce. Illegal connections and meter tampering are certainly happening and are very visible in certain residential areas. In the business sector, meter tampering and bypassing is much more discreet and sophisticated and difficult to detect.