MAN SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON FOR ELECTRICITY THEFT
The long arm of the law has snatched a thief who tampered with the city’s essential electricity infrastructure. Mxolisi Hlatshwayo (29) was sentenced to eight (8) years imprisonment on 1 February 2024, by the Vosloorus Magistrates Court for the crime.
It was on 30 June 2022, when the city’s officials caught Hlatshwayo tampering with cables in a mini substation containing meters in Klipportjie, Boksburg. At the time, one of the meters had already been bridged and removed from the facility.
When confronted about his actions, the man could not give a satisfactory response forcing the municipal officials, who caught him red-handed, to report the matter to the Dawn Park Police. A case of tampering with essential electricity infrastructure was opened and Hlatshwayo was arrested.
The city hails the court’s judgment as a very important milestone and achievement in energy revenue and essential infrastructure protection.
“This is a great milestone that sends a clear message to all those who are stealing municipal infrastructure that it is a matter of time before they are arrested and sent to jail where they belong. Tampering with essential infrastructure is major problem for the municipality. Some people bridge meters while others steal the cables and other electricity gear, leaving people in the dark for days. Sadly, we have people who rely on electricity for survival because of different health conditions, and these actions endanger their lives,” says city spokesman Zweli Dlamini.
“We also have a major problem of illegal connections, which are made possible by electricity thieves who have a know-how of electricity issues – putting innocent lives at risk in the process.”
The city appeals to members of the public to assist in the fight against thieves stealing municipal infrastructure.
Members of the public are urged to report any criminal activities they see on the city’s essential electricity infrastructure by calling the call centre on 0860 543 000 or through the city’s social media pages – X @CoE_Call_Centre.
