South Africa – Accommodations Plunged Into Darkness

By: Thandeka Kosa, South Africa

To crack down on power thieves, Emfuleni Local Municipality MMC for Finance and Revenue Hassan Mako took to the streets of SE 7, a local suburb in Gauteng, as he led a hard-hitting operation to disconnect electricity offenders.

This comes after a joint operations team moved with military precision last Monday, 5th August 2024, targeting known offenders and pulling the plug on illegal connections.

According to Mako, electricity theft is a rampant issue plaguing Emfuleni and does not only drain municipal coffers but also endangers the lives of innocent residents.

Mako said: “There are a high number of households in this area that owe the municipality millions of rands. As we were about to disconnect, we saw a lot of bridging and a lot of illegal connections.”

According to Mako they will be monitoring the area daily to make sure power theft is curbed.

“SE 7 is the first, but certainly not the last. We will also roll out this project to other areas. We are saying to those who have been doing wrong to stop. We urge residents to come forward and pay the municipality rates.”

According to Sedibeng Ster, a local newspaper, as the operation unfolded, reactions from the community were mixed. While some residents expressed their shock and outrage, others voiced support for the tough stance applied by the municipality.