Question NW3790 to the Minister in The Presidency for Electricity
05 January 2024 - NW3790
Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Electricity
(1)What (a) total number of cases of transformer theft and/or sabotage to electrical infrastructure were reported in the (i) 2019-20, (ii) 2020-21, (iii) 2021-22 and (iv) 2022-23 financial years and (b) was the financial cost in terms of each province; (2) (a) which areas are yet to be restored and connected as a result of the theft incidents and (b) what action has been taken to restore and protect the electrical infrastructure?
Reply:
The Ministry/Minister was appointed to oversee and direct the implementation of the Energy Action Plan, with its 5-outcome areas. As such, the focus of NECOM has been on strengthening/stabilising generation, enabling the fast tracking of new generation including addressing legislative bottle necks, and accelerating the scale and pace of implementation of renewable energy projects, as well as upscaling rooftop solar/embedded generation projects, and transforming the energy landscape through transformation of the energy sector, consequently, the Ministry has not kept the records of the financial and economic impact (since its establishment) associated with cable theft and/or sabotage of transformer.
2. Further, incidences of this nature are observed across Eskom distribution, Transmission and the Municipalities and as such the Ministry does not maintain a outage/response and repair log. This information will have to be sourced from (Eskom Distribution), through the Department of Public Enterprises or the respect Municipality (in municipal licensed areas)