this study was conducted owing to the protracted problem and challenges that unauthorised electrical connections pose to electricity utilities. this study sought to contribute to the combating of unauthorised electrical connections in kwazulu--natal, south africa, which has never before been studied in this manner. considerable revenue is stolen from utilities because of unauthorised electrical connections, by--passing of electrical meters and tampering with electricity networks. this contributes to public safety risks, fatalities, property damage and overloading of electrical networks. this in turn causes transformer and electricity network overload and power supply failure, prolonged unplanned power cuts, loss of jobs, food security risk, serious poor economic development, damaged electrical infrastructure, loss of revenue, electricity disruptions, electric shock, and the burning of dwellings. this leads to the interruption of supply to legal and compliant customers, all with disastrous effects. it is therefore difficult to manage the supply and demand of electricity under these circumstances, more especially in this period when south africa faces a tight electricity supply. in this dissertation, the international and national perspectives reveal the nature and extent of unauthorised electrical connections. it was explored how unauthorised electrical connections are presently being combated and what specific security measures may be implemented to enhance the combating of unauthorised electrical connections. a case study design was used to investigate in greater detail the opinions, views, perceptions and experiences of the targeted interviewees using interviewing, site observation and case docket analysis. this design guided the use of specific sample groups, procedures and techniques used for data collection and analysis. the design and development of the different data collection instruments and the piloting of the instruments were implemented to ensure validity, reliability, accuracy and trustworthiness of the collected information. the study produced findings to assist electricity utilities to better manage this phenomenon. recommendations were formulated to assist stakeholders to improve their roles in the combating of unauthorised electrical connections.