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Meter boxes found on a farm in Fochville during a special takedown operation on 03 November 2024.
An 80-year-old man was arrested in Fochville for electricity theft worth R6 million. The farmer was found to have been illegally connecting, distributing, and selling electricity to communities on his farming property.
The arrest was made by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) energy safety and security work stream.
The farmer had been illegally supplying over 600 informal households with electricity.
Upon his arrest on Tuesday, three transformers, 119 electricity meter boxes, and electrical cables were found on the property.
Eskom had been investigating the property since 2018 and had disconnected power on the farm several times.
He appeared in court yesterday facing charges of tampering with essential infrastructure, theft of electricity worth over R6 million and theft of meter boxes worth R476 000.
The matter has been postponed for a formal bail application next Wednesday.
#sapsHQ The #NatJOINTS energy safety and security work stream continues to register commendable progress in ensuring that all forms of criminality that hamper the mandate of Eskom are dealt with decisively.
In its latest takedown operation on 03/12, An 80yr-old farmer was… pic.twitter.com/dE16Xebo8K
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) December 5, 2024
