A 51-year-old man was arrested in Newlands on 22 February during Operation #BuyaMthetho for illegally connecting the power supply to his property.
He was arrested by the police and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) working together with the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS), and is expected to appear in the Newlands Magistrate’s Court on 23 February.
It is alleged that the property owner owes the City over R290 000 for rates and services. When the team arrived at the property two weeks ago, they found that the electricity to the complex was illegally connected.
The City’s technicians cut off the power supply to the property, but when the team returned yesterday they found that that power had been reconnected.
The City recently launched Operation #BuyaMthetho, which has seen the City’s technicians disconnect services to properties that are in arrears and those which have illegally connected services, on a daily basis.
Since the launch of the operation, the City has collected over R1,8 million in revenue, identified 12 hijacked properties, and arrested eight people for illegally reconnecting services that were previously cut off. Instead of coming forward and making payment arrangements, some residents have approached officials to illegally reconnect their services.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
