GEORGE NEWS - The fight against illegal connections is yielding positive results as the George Municipality's electro-technical department removed 1 085 illegal power connections at informal settlements in George in February.

This was confirmed in a report tabled at the electrotechnical services committee meeting on Tuesday 5 April. 

The number of informal settlement houses in George is estimated at 8 000, of which 5 981 informal settlement houses in Thembalethu and Moeggeploeg have illegal and unsafe electricity connections.

Director of Electrotechnical Services Bongani Mandla said illegal power connections, no matter how small or innocent-looking, are dangerous and are certainly a death trap.

Mandla assured that his department will continue with the campaign of removing the illegal connections and educating the public about the dangers of illegal power connections. 

"We are working with the George Municipality's communications department to assist us with sharing educational information about the dangers of illegal connections," he said.

"In the next month, we are distributing 15 000 flyers in Afrikaans, English and Isi-Xhosa to the areas most affected by illegal connections, as part of our awareness campaign on illegal connections. These flyers comprise information about the nature of the illegal connections, the dangers associated with illegal connections, financial implications, and useful information when one wants to report illegal connections as well as information on a reward attached to reporting illegal connection upon successful prosecution."

Members of the public may report illegal connections to George Municipality on 044 801 9222 / 044 803 9222 / 044 801 6300 (a/h). Report people who make illegal connections to 0860 044 044 or the police on 10111.

George Municipality offers R2 500 reward for information that leads to the successful conviction of electrical theft and/or vandalism in a court of law. 

The witness will have to go on record to the authorities, giving his/her name and contact details to testify, but his/her identity will be protected. Report to 0860 044 044 to be eligible for the reward.

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