City Power conducted a joint operation to combat illegal connections to the power grid in Alexandra, Johannesburg, confiscating infrastructure valued at approximately R200,000. During this action, about 180 kg of mixed aluminum cable and three electricity transmission poles were seized.
The operation, which took place on Thursday along London Road and in the informal settlement of Greenville, was carried out with the support of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD).
A City Power representative, Isaac Mangen, stated that this campaign is part of the utility's efforts to curb illegal connections following a recent electricity meeting in Alexandra.
Dangerous Network Discovered
Mangen specified that during the operation, staff discovered a network of dangerous makeshift electrical connections. These connections consisted of bare aluminum cables strung between poles, roofs, and informal structures.
City Power warned that such illegal infrastructure poses a serious threat to residents, employees, and the entire local community, increasing the risk of electric shock, fires, equipment damage, transformer overloading, and unplanned power outages.
The utility also expressed concern over the proximity of these illegal connections to Zenzele Primary School, noting that students, teachers, and staff are being put at unnecessary risk.
Acting Chief Executive Officer Charles Tluan described the situation as alarming, especially due to the risks to children attending the neighboring school. He emphasized that City Power cannot allow the normalization of dangerous electrical connections near educational institutions and stated that community protection remains a priority.
Informal Settlement Creates Additional Difficulties
City Power reported that efforts to eliminate illegal connections in Greenville are complicated by the fact that this informal settlement is located under and adjacent to high-voltage lines. According to Mangen, this creates significant safety and planning challenges, hindering the formal development of the area and the establishment of a standard electrical grid.
Mangen added that over the past two weeks, City Power teams have been auditing meters and installing mini-substations in formalized parts of London Road as part of a broader regularization program aimed at improving energy supply while simultaneously reducing risks associated with illegal connections.
Law enforcement supporters welcomed the operation; some residents noted that the illegal connections disrupted their daily lives. A resident of 21st Avenue, Lydia Tsholo, stated that intervention was long overdue and urged City Power to continue such raids.
Tluan assured that City Power will continue to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and the local community to combat illegal connections, infrastructure theft, and vandalism throughout Johannesburg. He stressed that such law enforcement operations are vital for protecting investments made to improve the power grid and creating safer communities.