80-year-old farmer arrested for electricity theft worth millions

An 80-year-old farmer has been arrested after he was found to have been illegally connecting, distributing and selling electricity to communities that have settled on his farm in Fochville, Gauteng.

This week, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) energy safety and security workstream handcuffed the elderly farmer.

Arrested farmer faces multiple charges

Police Spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said Natjoints continues to register “commendable progress” in ensuring that criminality hampering Eskom’s mandate is decisively dealt with.

“The Natjoints team led by Saps [South African Police Service], Eskom and Johannesburg City Power arrived on his farm where three transformers, 119 electricity meter boxes and electrical cables used to connect each household were confiscated.

“The elderly suspect appeared in court on Wednesday, 4 December 2024, on a charge of tampering with essential infrastructure worth R90 000, theft of electricity worth R6 million and theft of meter boxes worth R476 000,” Mathe said.