The City of Cape Town’s Directorate for Energy and Climate has urged residents to immediately report the theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure.
Reports can be made to the City itself or the South African Police Service.
Mayco member, Beverley van Reenen, says fixing vandalized infrastructure costs the municipality a lot of money and also leads to prolonged area power outages. She adds that with the recent intensification of loadshedding, vandalism risks have increased.
Over recent months, the City ramped up its efforts to protect infrastructure, removed illegal connections across the metro, and continues to monitor all hotspot areas. The Directorate has also deployed safety and security teams to help guard critical infrastructure, especially during the high stages of Eskom load-shedding.
In August this year, the City’s Electricity Generation and Distribution Department carried out an operation to remove multiple illegal connections in hotspot areas within the Siqalo informal settlement and surrounding areas. Van Reenen says initiatives in this regard are ongoing.
The City is also monitoring all hotspot areas across the metro and the electricity teams will continue to remove illegal connections in communities.
She says illegal connections and infrastructure vandalism remain a challenge, as it often results in constant electricity outages in some areas.
Recently City officials confiscated a truckload of electricity cable used for illegal connections.
An estimated R40 million has been set aside in the 2022/2023 financial year to enhance initiatives to help curb and prevent vandalism of critical energy infrastructure in communities. The R40 million injection is focusing on securing critical infrastructure in all communities, boosting security patrols in hotspot areas, and permanent security deployments to strategic energy infrastructure.
In addition, the City will embark on a vandalism awareness and education drive in communities so that residents have a greater understanding of the impact and cost of vandalism in their areas.
Report damage to municipal electrical infrastructure:
SMS: 31220
Email: power@capetown.gov.za
Anonymous tip-offs welcomed:
Residents can give anonymous tip-offs if they are aware of illegal activity, such as illegal connections or unlawful occupations, that is taking place; that has happened or is still to happen. Please call 112 from a cell phone (toll-free) and 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 for emergencies.
Read more here.
Related articles:
Report illegal connections and vandalism to the City.
With the intensification of load-shedding, vandalism risks have increased.
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— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) September 22, 2022
