ANC’s Mmamoloko Kubayi says SA needs to get rid of illegal power connections
ANC NEC sub-committee on economic transformation head, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has highlighted the pressing need to address illegal electricity connections, which are causing severe strain on South Africa’s power infrastructure.
Kubayi emphasized that illegal connections not only lead to power cuts in overpopulated communities but also significantly contribute to the degradation of essential electricity infrastructure.
Impact of Illegal Connections on Power Supply
Speaking at a media briefing during an ANC NEC meeting in Ekurhuleni on Saturday, Kubayi underscored the urgency of addressing illegal connections to reduce load-shedding and protect infrastructure.
Illegal connections, she explained, overload electrical systems in dense communities, triggering load reduction—a practice where power is temporarily cut in specific areas to manage strain. Kubayi stated, “That’s why you find transformers blowing because the capacity is higher than what you are supposed to have.”
When transformers and substations experience high demand from unauthorized connections, they wear out faster, creating a maintenance crisis for municipalities. Overloaded systems struggle to keep up with this unplanned demand, leading to frequent breakdowns that impact both legal and illegal users.
Understanding Load Reduction and Its Consequences
Kubayi explained that load reduction is a direct response to overloaded systems caused by illegal connections, especially in highly populated areas where demand is high. Rather than risking a system-wide breakdown, municipalities opt for load reduction to manage demand and prevent infrastructure damage. However, this solution only provides temporary relief, while further stressing the need for municipalities to keep up with maintenance demands.
Kubayi emphasized that the problem goes beyond infrastructure: “It’s a responsibility as well for us as citizens. But we have got to ensure that illegal connections don’t happen.” The knock-on effects of this unsanctioned usage are severe, as critical equipment like transformers and substations must then be replaced frequently at high cost, straining already limited municipal resources.
The Challenge of Maintaining Municipal Infrastructure
Municipalities are struggling to keep up with the extensive maintenance and replacement of electricity infrastructure. Many are already financially constrained, and the additional costs from illegally overloaded systems only worsen their burden. Kubayi noted that illegal connections not only strain infrastructure but also drain resources that could otherwise improve the quality of services. Municipal infrastructure, she argued, was “never designed to handle such extensive overloading,” which exacerbates the issue of maintenance.
Kubayi’s remarks emphasize that tackling illegal connections is essential for municipalities to improve power stability and meet the demand without having to resort to load reduction measures. She called for increased collaboration between municipalities, law enforcement, and communities to address illegal connections and ensure that these practices are eliminated.
Proposed Solutions to Address the Crisis
To address this issue effectively, Kubayi suggested that the government, communities, and law enforcement need to collaborate more closely. Solutions could include providing more affordable electricity options for underserved communities, as well as cracking down on those responsible for illegal connections. By tackling the problem from multiple angles, the ANC aims to reduce the demand for illegal connections while enforcing regulations to curb their spread.
Additionally, strengthening infrastructure to withstand current demands, especially in densely populated areas, will be crucial. Kubayi indicated that government projects aimed at upgrading infrastructure and expanding access to electricity for more households will also contribute to reducing illegal connections, but the public must play a part by avoiding unauthorized connections.
The Role of Citizens in Combating Illegal Connections
Kubayi also stressed the role of South African citizens in this effort. Illegal connections often serve as a quick fix for those without reliable access to electricity, and the issue is often driven by socioeconomic factors.
However, Kubayi urged citizens to consider the broader impact of these actions on their communities and work with authorities to find sustainable solutions. Educating communities about the effects of illegal connections on their own power reliability and infrastructure could foster greater community involvement in combating the problem.
Looking Forward
The ANC’s stance on tackling illegal electricity connections signals an intensified approach to dealing with infrastructure challenges at a national level. With Kubayi leading this charge, the government aims to create long-term solutions that reduce dependency on illegal connections while maintaining and enhancing critical infrastructure.
By focusing on a multi-faceted approach, the ANC hopes to not only safeguard the country’s electrical grid but also to improve the quality of life for all South Africans who rely on reliable power.
