City Power targets alleged illegal electricity syndicate in Midrand

City Power says it is intensifying efforts to dismantle an alleged organised network behind illegal electricity connections in Midrand, north of Johannesburg.

This follows an operation in Kanana Informal Settlement and Klipfontein View, where teams recovered about one tonne of cables worth an estimated R500 000, along with two transformers valued at approximately R2 million.

The illegal connections are said to have repeatedly disrupted electricity supply to customers in Rabie Ridge Extensions.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena says enforcement operations will continue to protect infrastructure and ensure a reliable electricity supply for paying customers.

“The network itself is basically eating into the revenue that the City of Johannesburg should be generating.

But it is also part of this criminal syndicate that we believe needs to be dismantled by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

We will continue with these kinds of operations, especially as we reposition City Power to ensure that we are a profitable entity and can get people to start buying electricity.” Related video | City Power | Disconnections over debt, illegal connections