Plett municipal employees "fingered" for electricity theft

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Yolande Stander

The Bitou Municipality clamped down on corruption this week and on Wednesday announced that more than 40 municipal workers allegedly bypassed electricity metres.

This was established during an internal forensic investigation followed by a sting operation on Tuesday night when it came to light that the municipality had suffered R9-million in electricity losses during the last financial year.

While several senior officials will be suspended with immediate effect, further suspensions are expected once internal disciplinary hearings have been finalised.

"This is just the first stage of our attempt to root out this problem. This exercise will also be carried out in our various communities. We just wanted to kick this off by cleaning our own house first," Bitou mayor Memory Booysen said.

Municipal manager Allen Paulse said that criminal charges could also be on the cards for those who were found guilty of theft during the disciplinary hearings. "These officials will also then be dismissed," Paulse said.

(Garden Route Media)