Crackdown rakes in R1.2bn

Emfuleni's smart meter bypassing crackdown has clawed back R1.2 million in fines and lost municipal revenue—after only about a week of action against offending residents and businesses.

- Craig Kotze

The operation is continuing and by yesterday, about 40% of the identified 110 smart meter bypasses had been rectified, smart meter service provider BXC confirmed.

So far, at least 19 residential fines of R10,000 each have been paid to the municipality to have power reconnected. Accounts with bypasses remain cut off until the fine is paid.

Several R40,000 fines have also been issued to businesses found to have their smart meters bypassed. Most of the rectified bypassed accounts were in Three Rivers, Vereeniging and in the CE1 and SE3 areas in Vanderbijlpark.