MOLETSANE, SOWETO — Eskom’s intensified crackdown on illegal electricity connections and meter tampering has left residents of Moletsane in Soweto without power for over 15 months, sparking a complex dispute over unpaid fines, system failures, and community hardship. The power utility has taken a hard line on electricity theft and accounts in arrears, imposing heavy penalties on customers found to have bypassed meters or damaged infrastructure.
A mini substation serving 72 customers in the area stopped working due to overloading caused by illegal connections. Following investigations and audits, Eskom determined that 70 of the 72 customers—approximately 97 percent—had tampered with their meters. Consequently, the utility refused to reconnect or fix the substation for these residents, instead imposing remedial fines of around R6,000 per affected household.
Affected residents report struggling to raise the required funds amid high local unemployment rates. While some households began paying their fines months after the substation failed, many allege they were caught in bureaucratic loops. Residents noted significant discrepancies, stating that Eskom incorrectly flagged their properties as either terminated or equipped with prepaid meters, which most households do not have.
Furthermore, residents making payments to a designated FNB account, which they were told was an Eskom account, found that the transactions did not reflect in the utility’s system due to IT address-matching failures. To combat this administrative barrier, the community created its own spreadsheet documenting all 72 households. Residents now manually update Eskom officials every month with their spreadsheet and proof of payment to ensure their contributions are recognized.
Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena explained that the utility continues to impose fines in communities like Moletsane where residents have tampered with mini substations. Mokwena clarified that Eskom requires at least 60 percent of the affected residents to settle their fines before the utility will restore power to the entire area.
Despite these policies, residents remain frustrated. One resident claims to have paid more than the required R6,000 fine in an attempt to have her electricity restored, yet her power remains disconnected. Collectively, the community claims to have paid over R200,000 toward these fines and is demanding transparency regarding where the funds have been allocated.
Mokwena noted that only 18 of the 70 penalized customers in the area have fully settled their fines. Mokwena reiterated that Eskom recognizes the hardship this places on households and will continue working with the community to close the gap. Once financial obligations are met, Eskom will replace the mini substations and meters to ensure a stable, long-term supply.
The dangers of illegal connections extend beyond administrative disputes. Just a few kilometers away in Dlamini, bypassed electricity lines recently sparked a fire that tore through several formal dwellings. A landlord of multiple properties affected by the blaze, stated that illegal connections were directly linked to the devastating fire.
This localized crackdown reflects a broader national challenge. In its latest annual financial results released on Monday, Eskom reported losing R29 billion to electricity theft. Moving forward, the power utility continues to urge customers not to tamper with meters or the national grid, warning that non-payment and infrastructure sabotage will result in prolonged disconnections and strict remedial fines.
