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ROUND UP
Electricity theft… shocking figures
According to online publication
The Energy
Collective
, electricity theft accounts for
1% of all electricity consumed globally. In
its February 2013 edition, the publication
stated that India loses up to 33% of all
electricity generated and 1% of GDP due
to electricity theft. According to the report,
the USA was losing an estimated $6 billion
annually due to electricity theft while the UK
was losing an estimated £299 M per annum
due to gas and electricity theft.
In South Africa,
Eskom
and munici-
palities lose an estimated R7,5 billion per
annum due to electricity theft. Electricity
theft includes illegal connections, meter
tampering and bypassing, illegal prepaid
power vending, cable/ infrastructure theft,
and non-payment. In recent weeks Eskom
has arrested a number of culprits who have
been found in possession of, amongst oth-
ers, overhead lines, transformers and pylon
support lattices.
The value of material stolen remains a
serious concern, as it is indicative of or-
ganised, syndicate-driven criminal activity
in the conductor theft environment, which
is also experienced by other state-owned
enterprises.
The fight against network equipment
theft is being addressed by means of intel-
ligence driven investigations by the Hawks,
a division of SAPS, which encompasses ag-
gressive policing of the scrap metal market
for stolen goods.
The courts are also taking this crime seri-
ously and significant sentences are being
handed out to perpetrators. A joint industry
working group, formed by Eskom,Transnet,
Telkom, SAPS, the National Prosecuting
Authority, Business Against Crime and the
South African Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (SACCI), continues to contribute
positively in the fight against this crime.
Some successful policing
On 29 January 2016 a man appeared in
the Cullinan Regional court and was found
guilty of robbery, with aggravating circum-
stances, and sentenced to 15 years impris-
onment for stealing cable rolls from one of
Eskom’s depots in Cullinan (three people
were involved but only one was arrested).
Two people were recently found guilty of
theft and sentenced to seven years impris-
onment at the Potchefstroom Regional
Court, North-West. A third accused was
fined R20 000 or six years imprisonment
The convictions follow an Eskom investiga-
tion which led to the three arrests in May
last year after a 70 mmwide and 1 km long
overhead conductor valued at R126 000 was
stolen in Delareyville, North West.
Enquiries: Eskom Media Desk.
Tel: +27 (0) 11 800 3304/3343 or
CABLES + ACCESSORIES
21
June ‘16
Electricity+Control