Msunduzi Municipality uncovers shocking electricity theft tactics
Electricity Department team members conduct thorough inspections to ensure compliance with municipal regulations.
Image: Facebook / Msunduzi Municipality
The Msunduzi Municipality’s efforts to combat electricity theft have uncovered surprisingly sophisticated and unique methods residents are using to bypass meters, ranging from hidden connections on utility poles to elaborate underground cabling systems.
During an electricity meter auditing operation in areas like Napierville on Monday, Deputy Mayor Mxolisi Mkhize revealed that they found multiple instances of highly “exclusive” tampering, where connections were illegally rerouted before reaching the meter box, making the theft nearly invisible from inside the property.
Mkhize was alongside the Deputy Municipal Manager for Electricity Services, Simphiwe Mchunu, and the Electricity Department team. City-wide electricity installation audits have commenced to ensure complete compliance with municipal bylaws and regulations.
The audit programme began on Devonshire Road in Napierville, where teams inspected electricity meters and installations to ensure compliance with municipal electricity laws and safety standards.
Deputy Mayor Mxolisi Mkhize discusses the municipality’s crackdown on electricity theft during a recent audit.
Image: Facebook / Msunduzi Municipality
Mkhize explained that they conduct an audit of electricity meters to ensure all connections are legal.
He said tampering will result in disconnection, adding that the audit will also identify older meters for upgrade to smart meters, which is the operation’s main goal. Smart meters will ensure accurate billing for customers due to the new technology.
He said they were not there to fight with the residents, but to inspect all the properties within the community. Individuals found to have violated the law will have their tampered meters removed.
Following this, they are required to report to 333 Church Street to pay the appropriate fines. Once the fines are settled, the municipality will install the correct smart meters, which are designed to make future tampering significantly more difficult.
“Since we’ve arrived here, we have found multiple tampering at a very exclusive way of doing it, where you will go into the house, you will think that everything is proper, only to find out a bypassing has been done either on the pole, as you have seen our employees as they were there on the poles, it’s where the tampering has been done,” Mkhize explained.
“Others have done it underground. They will find that cables have been illegally connected and run underneath the house.
“Then you’ll go to the meter box, you find everything that is legit, but the electricity that they are stealing is bypassed before it goes to the meter.”
Inspectors uncover underground cabling used to bypass electricity meters.
Image: Facebook / Msunduzi Municipality
Mkhize added that residents spend a lot of money paying “fly-by-night electricians” who are crippling the city by bypassing electricity for residents, which they discourage.
“We then want to say to our residents, they must fight these guys because they are the ones who are crippling their city.”
The municipality said the day concluded with the electricity installation audit continuing to yield significant findings.
“On Eugene Marais Road, four properties were found to be tampering with their electricity connections. Specifically, one property was identified as a repeat offender, having tampered with its connection for the third time. Another property, currently owing the municipality R105,000 for services, was discovered to be illegally connected to the electricity supply. A further property was also found in violation due to tampering.”
It said illegal connections were immediately disconnected per municipal by-laws, and enforcement processes are under way.
Inspectors examine an electricity meter as part of the city-wide audit.
Image: Facebook / Msunduzi Municipality
“During the inspection process, one property on Devonshire Road was found to be illegally connected to the electricity supply. Records indicate that the property had been disconnected in 2022 due to an outstanding debt of R255,000 owed to the municipality. Despite the disconnection, the property was found to have an active electricity supply, confirming tampering with municipal infrastructure. The illegal connection was immediately terminated, and the necessary fines were issued in accordance with municipal regulations,” the municipality said.
“A second property on the same road was also discovered to be illegally connected. This property has previously been disconnected more than five times for similar offences. Municipal records show that the last payment for services was made in 2022, with the current outstanding balance amounting to R834,000. The illegal connection was disconnected, and further enforcement action will follow.”