By Phenyo Selinda
A contractor at Eskom’s Matla Power Station has been apprehended on suspicion of copper cable theft. The individual faces serious charges of theft and unlawful possession of copper cables valued at approximately R4,000.
🔒 Crackdown on Crime
Eskom’s Acting General Manager for Security, Botse Sikhwitshi, lauded the power utility’s security teams for their proactive measures in deterring criminal actions. “We commend the security teams from Matla Power Station for their vigilance,” remarked Sikhwitshi. “The arrest of the suspect aligns with Eskom’s zero-tolerance approach towards illegal activities. Furthermore, the collaboration with law enforcement is also bearing fruit.”
Sikhwitshi also highlighted that there has been a notable decrease in criminal incidents across Eskom. “Eskom has recorded a 5% decrease in crime incidents across the company in the 2023/24 financial year compared to the 2022/23 financial year,” he added.
🛠 Repairs and Restoration in Soweto
In related developments, Eskom is currently undertaking repairs to a vandalised transformer that has affected at least nine areas in Soweto. The transformer was severely damaged after a fire, allegedly ignited by illegal connections and vandalism.
“While repairing the damaged transformer, we have managed to provide electricity supply to all the affected areas using three other existing transformers in the Zola sub-station. However, this temporary measure has led to increased electricity consumption beyond the capacity of these three transformers,” the utility stated.
To mitigate the increased load, Eskom has implemented load rotation between 5 pm and 10:30 pm daily until June 30. “The schedule has been communicated to customers. It’s important to note that load rotation is not the same as load shedding; load shedding has been suspended for 90 consecutive days,” an Eskom spokesperson explained.
Completion of repairs is anticipated by Sunday.
❗ Condemnation of Ongoing Theft and Vandalism
Eskom has strongly condemned the persistent theft and vandalism of its equipment across Gauteng. “There has been an increase in incidents of theft and vandalism, resulting in the loss of revenue and increased replacement costs for Eskom,” the utility expressed in a statement.
“These criminal acts do not only affect the power utility, but they inconvenience law-abiding, paying customers and affect community service points such as healthcare facilities, education facilities, businesses, and the economy at large as seen with the Zola incident,” emphasized Eskom.
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