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The highly-successful Eskom-led anti-electricity theft campaign, Operation Khanyisa, this week intensifies the campaign against electricity theft in targeted hot spot areas in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and the Free State provinces, where high levels of electricity theft are experienced.

Employing a localised approach hinged on strong law enforcement including investigations, arrests and court cases, combined with meter auditing and customer education and awareness, Operation Khanyisa has helped reduce Eskom’s losses from 7.12% in 2013 to 6.43% in 2016, which translates to a saving of R1.4 billion every year in electricity that Eskom would have generated at a loss.

Says Dileep John, Head of Operation Khanyisa: “This has led to the recovery of R618-million in revenue for Eskom since 2013 and the arrest of 50 electricity theft suspects and the opening of 26 cases on the court roll.”

“This would not have been possible without help from the public,” he added. “Thanks to the 17 000 tip-offs we receive from the public since the campaign started, we have been able to bring to book perpetrators of this crime, which costs South Africa an estimated R20 billion each year.

“Putting electricity thieves out of business also means illegal connections are removed, which reduces the number of deaths of innocent people, particularly children, who get electrocuted.”

Members of the South African community are urged to take a stand against electricity thieves by reporting suspected electricity theft anonymously to Crime Line at 32211 (R1/SMS).

Issued by Eskom