The Buffalo City Metro says it has noted with concern the rise in illegal connections which are threatening to plunge communities into prolonged darkness.
Metro spokesperson, Samkelo Ngwenya says the past week alone, law enforcement officers escorted municipal electricians to Mzamomhle and Mdantsane to disconnect 270 and 350 Illegal electricity connections respectively.
He says non-technical losses, which include illegal electricity connections, amount to R228-million per year.
Ngwenya says these are causing an overloaded network, and they have been replacing transformers at an alarming rate.
He says in the last three months during the Covid-19 lockdown, at least 12 transformers were replaced and this has depleted the Municipality's stock.
BCM says it is working closely with the police and will be taking legal action against these illegal connectors, in terms of the criminal amendments act.
The City is currently rolling out the installation of smart meters to businesses and households in an attempt to manage electricity loses.
