By: Lungisa Somtombo
The restoration of load shedding has provided an opportunity for thieves to steal and vandalise municipal electrical infrastructure, such events as they are increasing sharply and the BCM urges the public to report these acts.
Buffalo City Metro Spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said syndicates have been reported to vandalise and steal electrical cables and transformers, leaving numerous places without power for a prolonged period. He added that what is evident is that these people are working together because they target areas that are affected by load shedding.
“Duncan Village, Cambridge, Sunnyridge, the CBD, Nahoon, Mdantsane, Dorchester Heights and sequence are among the affected locations,” said Ngwenya.
According to the BCM spokesperson, the vandalism can cost the city anywhere from R60 000 to millions of rands, depending on the size of the transformer or cable vandalized or stolen, this results in revenue loss and inconvenience to numerous customers.
Trying to get rid of these criminal acts the city has raised this issue with the South African Police Services (SAPS), Law Enforcement Services and some private security companies.
“We are also aware of the fact that the war against theft and vandalism of government property cannot be won without community involvement,” said Ngwenya.
A Mdantsane resident who has been affected by electric cables theft Sivuyile Myataza said when electricity blacks out they normally think it is load shedding until it is gone for days and it destroys their electrical appliances.
“People lose their electric appliances like kettles, cable extensions because the electricity blackout unexpectedly and we stay for up to three days without electricity until the municipality comes and fixes the problem,” she said.
Ngwenya concluded that people can report any suspicious acts to Law Enforcement services on 04 722 819, to the BCM electricity department on 043 0505 683 or to the police.