In its ongoing drive to not only eradicate electricity theft, but to also educate South Africans about the dangers of this crime, power utility Eskom recently embarked on a six-day community education campaign in Botshabelo and other areas in the Free State province.
Eskom, in collaboration with the Free State provincial government through Operation Khanyisa, the utility’s national campaign aimed at promoting the legal and safe use of electricity, participated in the province’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reductions programme by highlighting the risks associated with illegal electricity connections through the use of industrial theatre. The educational play was targeted at more than 1 500 community members, including 1 200 learners from local schools who were in attendance at Botshabelo’s Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium.
Eugene Myburgh, Eskom’s Energy Trading Manager in the Free State, says that this leg of the campaign was a resounding success. “We reached more than 1 500 community members through several interventions such as the industrial theatre, which educated people on electricity safety and the dangers of electricity theft on our lives.
“Because electricity related injuries remain a serious threat in the province, we decided to embark on this campaign to educate people about the dangers of electricity theft and also urge them to stop connecting electricity illegally in the interest of their own safety and that of our children,” he said.
“We express our gratitude to all members of the public who have supported Operation Khanyisa by reporting suspected electricity theft and illegal connections in their communities.”
Myburgh urged all South Africans to continue reporting the perpetrators of this crime by sending anonymous SMS tip-offs to 32211 (R1/ SMS).
