Eskom says prepaid customers illegally connected to grid will face criminal charges

JOHANNESBURG - Eskom said prepaid customers illegally connected to the grid will eventually face the magistrate.

Last week was the deadline for prepaid account holders to update their meters.

The utility had extended the grace period to allow for the replacement of meters that had been tampered with.

Spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said those found using tokens from unlicensed vendors would also face the same fate.

Mokwena added that Eskom will intensify meter auditing.

"This will include tamper fines of R6,052 and potentially up to R12,000 for second offenders and include criminal charges for third offenders."