Central SA
Electricity tampering in MAP 'a serious challenge'─── 13:30 Wed, 12 Apr 2023
The Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) Local Municipality in the Free State is upset that residents who tampered with electricity don’t present themselves to clear their names.
The few residents who came and cleared their names at the municipal premises indicated they are frightened to be arrested or charged a certain amount as a penalty.
This also allows them to keep tampering with electricity although they have been called upon to clear their names.
Towards the end of last year, the municipality called all residents who tampered with electricity to come and clear their names so that the new arrangements could start. They were given until the end of March.
The municipal spokesperson, Thabo Kessah, said the doors are still open for them. "We are still waiting for them to come and clear their names after the closing date. We extended the duration because we believe that most of them do not have a clear picture of what we are intending to do. There will be no arrest or penalty, we just want to start a new agreement."
He added that electricity is one of the factors that generate more revenue for the municipality. "If people don't buy electricity and keep using it illegally, we won't be able to deliver services."
Maluti-a-Phofung is one of the municipalities that owes Eskom billions of rand.
