City Power has urged the residents of Vasco Da Gama to protect their electricity infrastructure against vandalism.
This follows after a number of residents expressed their dismay for not having electricity for nearly two weeks.
City Power said that the power in the area went off on Monday night, 13 July after the Vasco Da Gama switching substation was allegedly vandalised in ‘an attempt to steal cables’. City Power also noted that the same switching substation had been vandalised a week earlier, resulting in power loss.
“The latest vandalism has left areas from First to Fourth Avenues without electricity, between Florence Mphosho and Richard Baloyi. It also affects areas between 15th and 16th Avenues from Shelbourne, near Tsakis and Florence Mphosho,” explained City Power in a statement.
Resident Andy Mabena told Alex News that the lack of electricity has forced people to gather around fires without masks to keep themselves warm. Mabena said that this is concerning because the spread of Covid-19 is increasing in Alexandra.
Spokesperson of the Alexandra Police Station Constable Simphiwe Mbatha confirmed that the residents have been without electricity for nearly two weeks. “Nothing has been reported with regards to vandalism and cable theft. We were there yesterday, 16 July and people were burning tires. City Power came on Wednesday, 15 July and fixed what they were fixing and left. Residents of London Road were also burning tires because they also did not have electricity for two weeks. They were not protesting. They were just barricading the road,” Mbatha added.
City Power added, “The continued vandalism inconveniences the community. We appeal to the community to identify those who vandalise so they can be prosecuted and removed from the community.”
There is no estimated time of recovery available at this time, according to City Power. This may mean that these areas will remain without electricity until the repairs are concluded.
Residents can report any suspected suspicious activities, vandalism or theft through City Power’s 24-hour tip-off hotline 0800 002 587.
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