Residents in Tshwane are raising concerns about prepaid electricity meters after complaints emerged of people allegedly being accused of tampering following interventions by municipal technicians.
The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) says it has received several complaints from residents who claim technicians sometimes bypass meters as a temporary solution when attending to electricity faults, only for inspectors to later accuse them of illegal tampering.
According to the party, some residents have also reported being approached by individuals allegedly offering to make the resulting fines disappear in exchange for cash.
Two Tshwane residents have reportedly opened criminal cases with the police over what the FF+ describes as a possible racketeering scheme.
The issue comes as authorities continue to tackle widespread electricity theft. Eskom has recorded billions of rand in non-technical losses linked to electricity theft, while illegal connections and the use of unauthorised prepaid tokens remain major challenges.
In Tshwane, authorities have identified more than 2,300 manipulated meters. The city is also introducing smart prepaid meters in an effort to reduce tampering and pressure on the electricity network.
Residents found guilty of bypassing or tampering with meters can face fines of up to R75,000.
The City of Tshwane has stressed that its officials and technicians are not permitted to accept cash payments for work carried out at residents’ properties. Any municipal fines must be processed through officially approved tariffs and procedures.
Residents are advised to keep reference numbers for electricity complaints and photograph their meters before and after a technician visits. Anyone who receives a suspicious demand for cash should report the matter to the police.
Main Image: MyBroadband
