Eskom to tackle illegal connections after Philippi businesses meet deputy minister

Deputy Minister Alexandra Abrahams met with Philippi business owners in Cape Town to address energy issues impacting commercial activity. The Thursday meeting brought together officials from the Department of Electricity and Energy, Eskom, and the City of Cape Town. Abrahams highlighted the importance of stable energy for economic growth, job creation, and business efficiency.

Eskom pledged to remediate individual business grievances and hold monthly stakeholder meetings to tackle network vulnerabilities. She emphasized that sustainable job creation requires a reliable operational environment for businesses, urging government cooperation with industry to remove obstacles to economic growth.

During the discussion, stakeholders identified illegal energy connections as a significant risk to grid stability, safety hazards, and deterring investment. These illegal connections cost Esko billions annually, reducing infrastructure funding and raising costs for legitimate businesses. Eskom announced the formation of a task team to address these issues, involving local community, City of Cape Town, and private sector stakeholders to develop comprehensive solutions.

Abrahams noted that illegal connections are a criminal act, endangering lives and costing taxpayers millions of rands. She emphasized the need for the South African Police Service and National Prosecuting Authority to tackle these crimes. Abrahams reiterated her commitment to partnering with Esko to create the energy environment necessary for business success.