South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, on Monday disconnected power supply to three farms in Randfontein and arrested one of the farm owners for allegedly connecting electricity illegally and using it without payment.
According to Eskom, the suspect owns two of the farms where he cultivates cannabis and owes outstanding electricity bills amounting to R2.3 million.
Eskom said the suspect had previously been disconnected from the grid but illegally reconnected the power to his farm.
Gauteng Eskom spokesperson Amanda Qithi stated that the property was first disconnected in September last year.
“After we had disconnected him and removed him from our infrastructure, he then went and reconnected himself. He has been consuming electricity for free and even hired people to reconnect him,” Qithi explained.
Eskom noted that the property will remain without power until the outstanding debt is settled.
The utility further stated that illegal connections in Gauteng have cost it a substantial R7.7 million in losses.
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