Question NW68 to the Minister of Public Enterprises

Reply:

According to information received from Eskom:

(1)(a)(i)

The number of electrical infrastructure theft incidents is depicted in the table below:

 

Sum of Events ID
Operating Unit	2018/19	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24	Grand Total
Eastern Cape Operating Unit	1171	1080	1194	1280	1418	986	7129
Free State Operating Unit	702	582	569	554	518	420	3345
Gauteng Operating Unit	1849	1195	1400	1116	771	699	7030
KwaZulu-Natal Operating Unit	2159	1290	1489	1152	1125	1383	8598
Limpopo Operating Unit	924	828	852	857	707	523	4691
Mpumalanga Operating Unit	732	702	731	837	764	667	4433
North West Operating Unit	892	878	803	767	675	507	4522
Northern Cape Operating Unit	462	434	410	449	422	367	2544
Western Cape Operating Unit	269	274	261	372	322	253	1751
Grand Total	9160	7263	7709	7384	6722	5805	44043

The number of transformer theft cases that were reported is depicted in the table below:

(1)(b)(i)

Data not available for (aa) 2019-20, (bb) 2020-21 and (cc) 2021-22 (dd) 2022-23: A direct loss of R18 953 668.45 was reported relating to the theft of transformers.

(2)(a)

• The total number of failed transformers in Eskom across the nine provinces due to theft is 1347 as of 09 February 2024. Failed transformers are replaced daily, while failures as a result of theft and vandalism also take place frequently.
• The main causes of these transformer failures include overloading, which occurs when customers have tampered with or bypassed their meters, illegal connections which have bypassed the fuses and breakers that are meant to protect the transformer from overloading, as well as theft and vandalism.
• Eskom remains committed to replacing failed transformers soon after tamper fines have been paid by the customers and the replacement criteria have been met.

(2)(b)

• Collaboration with SAPS, SSA, and NPA [MAJOC/Priority Committee, ProvJoints, NatJoints] for continued support regarding crime prevention, disruptive operations, intelligence gathering, investigations, arrests and prosecutions.
• Implementation of technology to inform security designs for substations, powerlines and all Eskom facilities.
• Continually assessing threats and risks with appropriate plans for high-risk sites.

• Collaboration with communities to create awareness and encourage them to pay for electricity and take ownership thereof.
• Collaboration with the private security industry through enabling contracts.
• Strengthening of governance among the private security role-players that conduct business with Eskom.
• Conducting risk assessments and identification and classification of high-value assets and high-risk sites.
• Strengthening of security measures through investment in physical security technologies through the leveraging of the existing resources within Eskom Distribution.

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved

Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date: