KEY POINTS
- Police officers arrested a 37-year-old suspect in Winterveldt for stealing R1.7 million worth of Eskom transformers.
- According to Eskom’s data the company lost R90 million when unauthorized users attached transformers to the electrical grid.
- The authorities in Diepsloot and Erasmia seized more transformers resulting in estimated damages of R19 million.
Police made a significant discovery in Wintervelt when they arrested a 37-year-old individual and found 28 stolen Eskom transformers worth close to 1.7 million rand.
South African Police Service officials partnered with Eskom staff technicians on Friday during an espionage-based operation to catch the suspect.
Police Seize 28 Stolen Eskom Transformers
Law enforcement agents followed info on criminal energy theft activities at the site. Upon arriving at the scene officials found the suspect with both an Eskom transformer and other power equipment which led them to make an arrest. The investigation team found 27 more illicitly connected transformers at various locations inside Winterveldt, thereby police Seize 28 stolen Eskom transformers.
The authorities estimate that people who use power without permission caused a money loss of R90 million for Eskom. Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk revealed to us that unauthorized power theft affects Eskom’s both operational capability and financial security.
Crackdown on electricity theft continues
Police expect the arrested suspect to stand trial this week before the Rietgat Magistrate Court for his offenses of stealing and interfering with energy facilities. On March 5 officers conducted simultaneous raids that resulted in taking apart 13 illegal electrical transformers from Diepsloot and Erasmia locations. During this second operation they found stolen infrastructure that caused R19 million loss for the company in total revenue.
Lieutenant Colonel van Wyk stated that the NATJOINTS Energy Safety and Security Workstream continued to achieve great results since its creation in 2022 to fight offenders against Eskom operations. According to her the task force reduced sabotage and theft within Eskom’s network since it started operating last year.
Authorities will step up efforts to stop electricity theft and illegal manipulations of power equipment while asking residents to help protect the country from power loss by reporting strange actions.
