contractor allegedly posing as a City of Tshwane official has been apprehended while illegally reconnecting customers to the national power grid, after being caught in the act during a municipality‑led enforcement blitz. The man was using a vehicle to transport equipment and move from one property to the next, attempting to bypass legal supply procedures and avoid detection by energising loads without proper metering or authorisation.
Apparent evasion attempt
Footage from the operation shows the contractor trying to evade arrest after officials moved in, abandoning the premises and attempting to leave the area in the vehicle used for the alleged illegal work. Authorities intercepted him before he could escape, and the car was seized on suspicion that it was being used to facilitate theft of electricity and tampering with municipal infrastructure.
Crackdown on illegal connections
The incident forms part of a broader drive by the City of Tshwane to clamp down on illegal electricity and water connections, which have cost the municipality billions of rand in lost revenue, particularly in informal settlements. Municipal officials have warned that anyone found connecting or reconnecting power without approval faces criminal charges for tampering with infrastructure and theft of electricity, with contractors and building owners increasingly targeted in these operations