Mthente was commissioned by Draftfcb Social Marketing to conduct a revision and reformation of the Electricity Act as part of Operation Khanyisa’s attempts to curb electricity theft in the country. The study centred on a review of existing legislation across eleven South African Municipalities. In undertaking the study, Mthente adopted the following methodological approach:

• Desktop research to review existing legislation devised to prevent electricity theft in South Africa.
• Desktop research to compare a selection of first and third world countries with well-developed electricity theft laws.
• One-on-one interviews with key municipal stakeholders.

The research findings will serve to create an informed basis from which to identify the nature of electricity-related offences that are currently being committed in South Africa; identify strategies to prevent electricity theft; determine the basis for legal prosecution of electricity theft; and establish proper law enforcement and compliance measures. In this way, the results of the study will form an important part of the efforts of Operation Khanyisa to curb electricity theft in South Africa.