Staff Reporter
Illegal power connections in Mangaung have more than doubled over the past year resulting in the local power distributor, Centlec, struggling to keep the lights on in several parts of the city as the network is constantly overloaded.
In a detailed written response to questions submitted by The Free Stater, Centlec spokesperson Lele Mamatu said illegal connections in the Free State capital jumped from 248 in 2019/2020 to 559 in the just-ended 2020/2021 financial year.
He said the situation had become so grave that it compromised the company’s ability to conform to the required design standards including regulatory requirements.
“Overloading is rife in the Centlec area of supply . . . as a result of illegal connections and vandalism,” said Mamatu.
He said this saw the company issuing fines amounting to nearly R3.2 million in 2019/2020 in order to recoup its losses.
The figure jumped to nearly R7 million in the 2020/2021 financial year.
Mamatu said the difficult social and economic circumstances faced by many people in the city resulted in some choosing to break the law.
He said the rezoning of properties from residential to business premises or vice-versa is also used as a loophole by some to draw electricity illegally as it normally takes long before the correct supplies are installed.
Areas that have been listed as problematic in Mangaung include: Namibia, Quaggafontein, Navalsig/Hilton, Hillside, Turflaagte, Dewetsdorp, Caleb Motsabi, Orangesig, Chris Hani and Freedom Square on the eastern side.
To the west, it’s Dan Pienaar, Universitas, Brandwag, Vaalbank Zuid and Bainsvlei.
The city is also losing millions to vandalism and cable theft annually.
In recent years, over 19.5km of cable have been lost to theft.
“The cost of replacing stolen cable is estimated at R 15.3 million with stolen airdac cable at R1.1 million and revenue loss at R1.3 million, totalling R17.7milliom,” he explained.
At least 250 metres of 95mm² 11kV copper cable were stolen over the past year, 6.5km of 240mm² cable, 2.7km of 300mm² 33kV cable and 10km of airdac cable.
Among the steps taken by Centlec to tackle illegal connections and theft, Mamatu said they are conducting regular inspections in different parts of the city removing illegal connections, meters that have been tampered with and issuing fines.
They also use the vending system to establish the meters not purchasing electricity and following up every month to see if they have not been tampered with or using coupons from illegal vendors.
In June this year, seven suspects aged between 28 and 67 were arrested in an early morning raid after a year-long investigation into a sophisticated pre-paid electricity vending racket in the Free State and Gauteng.
The suspects were arrested at different locations in Gauteng by a special police task team.
At the time of the arrest, the priority crime investigating unit of the police, the Hawks, said the criminal network was responsible for large-scale pre-paid electricity fraud and theft.
The practice, according to the police, is called ghost vending as it involves the illegal sale and purchase of electricity.
The highly sophisticated and organised syndicates are said to operate in groups and generate income of approximately R150 000 to R250 000 per day from the illicit sale of electricity.
They are well-equipped, closely networked and are difficult to track because the machines they use do not rely on a network, allowing them to be constantly on the move.
The Criminal Matters Amendment Act of 2015 states that “any person who unlawfully and intentionally tampers with, damages or destroys essential infrastructure; or colludes with or assists another person in carrying out such an activity . . . is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a period of imprisonment of up to 30 years or, in the case of a corporate body . . . a fine of up to R100 million.”
The Act defines “essential infrastructure” as any installation, structure, facility or system providing a basic service and includes publicly or privately owned facilities.
It further defines basic services as the provision of energy, transport, water, sanitation and communication.
The Act says interfering with such equipment could prejudice the livelihood, well-being, daily operations or economic activity of the public.