KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Municipality says the recent power outages experienced in the municipal area could not be ascribed to illegal electricity connections, even though they pose serious risks that place a substantial drain on already limited municipal resources.
This was in response to social media complaints by some residents that an illegal electrical network was the main problem.
Residents are complaining about a growing number of informal settlements and saying that is where most of the illegal connections are found.
Key substations vandalism
Municipal head of communications Christopher Bezuidenhout said the recent incidents were caused by vandalism at substations.
"Recent power outages in our municipality have been primarily due to incidents of vandalism targeting key electricity substations. These criminal acts have significantly reduced our supply capacity and are currently under investigation.
"It is important to clarify that these outages are not necessarily linked to illegal electricity connections," he said.
"But illegal connections pose serious risks, including fires, electrocution, and network overload, and they place a substantial drain on already limited municipal resources."
Monitoring illegal power connections
He said the municipality actively monitors and conducts checks for illegal power connections. In line with electricity by-laws, strict penalties are in place for tampering with the electrical network or establishing unauthorised connections.
He urged members of the public to support municipal efforts by reporting any suspected illegal connections to the municipal electrical department. He also appealed to residents to not share their legal electricity connections, as doing so may implicate them in contributing to this ongoing issue.
"The safety and sustainability of our electricity supply depends on community vigilance and co-operation. Together, we can work toward a more secure and reliable energy network for all."
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