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Many people do not realise that they are all personally affected by electricity
theft. They therefore do not make an effort to prevent it or act against it.
What happens is: electricity is stolen through illegal power connections and meter
tampering. This affects the stability and quality of the power supply and can lead
to power outages. It also means that Eskom’s ability to keep up with the increasing
electricity demands of a growing economy is severely restricted. In addition to
looking for funds for the “build programme”, they also now have to find some way
of making up for lost revenue from electricity theft and related activities.
As a result, every single South African ends up paying for stolen electricity!
Therefore, South Africans urgently need to take a stand against electricity theft
and start making energy efficiency a priority every day.
Electricity theft is also threatening the lives of many unsuspecting South Africans.
Illegal connections are extremely dangerous because they are usually made with incorrect
wiring, often with un-insulated wires running across floors and pathways or streets.
In most cases the earth-leakage unit, which serves as protection against any accidental
contact, is bypassed. Illegal connections and electricity theft do not only pose
a revenue loss risk to Eskom, they are also a safety hazard to the community. Children,
adults and animals are at risk of death or serious injury if they come into contact
with these wires.
This campaign is a mobilisation partnership aimed at promoting legal power use.
Stakeholders, businesses, commerce, Eskom, government, civil society and the general
public are all key role players in driving Operation Khanyisa.
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