Tshwane cracks down on prepaid meter tampering as fines and disputes rise

The City of Tshwane has found 2,339 manipulated prepaid electricity meters during enforcement operations and warns that households caught tampering with meters can face fines of up to R75,000.

Scope of the problem

The metro says 494 of the 2,339 manipulated meters were linked to repeat offences. It estimates that tampering has cost the city more than R78 million so far. Households found guilty may also receive billing adjustments to recover electricity alleged to have been used without proper metering.

Measures and wider context

As part of efforts to curb theft, the city is replacing older meters with smart prepaid units, which it says are harder to interfere with. The issue is mirrored nationally: Eskom recorded R8.15 billion in non-technical losses from theft between April 2025 and the end of February 2026, and the Department of Electricity and Energy estimates about 1.7 million customers use illegal connections or tampered meters. Non-technical losses, including illegally generated prepaid tokens known as ghost vending, are said to cost up to R23 billion a year in revenue.

Complaints from residents and the Freedom Front Plus

The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) says it has received a growing number of complaints from residents who claim they were wrongly accused of tampering. The party says technicians responding to fault reports sometimes arrive without spare parts and temporarily bypass the meter to restore supply, after which inspectors visit and accuse the household of tampering. The FF+ also says some residents were told a fine could disappear in exchange for cash. Two residents have reportedly opened criminal cases with the police.

“In many cases, residents claim that these fines are unfounded and legally questionable…when residents report power problems, technicians often arrive without spare parts and bypass the meters to temporarily restore power,”

“Shortly afterwards, inspectors visit the same residents’ properties and accuse them of having tampered with the meters,” said FF+.

City of Tshwane response and dispute process

The City of Tshwane said that officials and technicians may never solicit or accept cash to cancel fines or alter meter records. The city added that fines must be charged to the account under gazetted tariffs, not paid through cash transfers or messaging apps. The city advised that anyone who receives such a demand should open a criminal case with SAPS.

Formal disputes can be lodged by email or at the Client Service Centre in the Isivuno Building.

What this means for residents

Residents on prepaid electricity face both the risk of heavy fines and billing corrections if meters are found to be tampered with. At the same time, the FF+ reports that some law‑abiding households say they have been wrongly accused after temporary bypasses by technicians. The city’s guidance is to follow formal dispute channels and to report any alleged attempts to solicit cash to the police.