Metro admits Boksburg faces electricity challenges

Since January, residents of Beyers Park, Atlasville, Bardene and Impala Park, have been without electricity on numerous occasions because cables were stolen near the substation.

A trench left behind by cable thieves. Recurrent cable theft is causing power outages in Boksburg.

The metro has admitted that cable theft was a major challenge in Boksburg.

Atlasville has also recently been hit by power failures, and it hasn’t been clear if the failures were caused by power fault or cable theft.

Metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe said they are making a plea to community members to keep an eye on any suspicious activity.

“Even though there are guards at all hot spots, the challenge persists.

“This is despite a penalty imposed on the security company each time an incident occurs where guards have been placed. The faults that occurred in Atlasville were cable failures, and not related to theft.

“The City’s energy department has since identified the problematic cable circuits and will commence replacing problematic cables,” said Gadebe.

He said 1.5km cable has been replaced, with approximately 3km cable that still needs to be done.

Gadebe said a petition was received from Clr Simon Lapping (Ward 17) by the Energy Department in February 2019 through the public participation and petitions committee, relating to the prevention of cable theft.

“Comments in respect of the the public participation and petitions committee petition were submitted and considered by the public participation and petitions committee. The outcome will be shared with the petitioners once the work of the committee took its course.”

Gadebe also highlighted that Ward Clr Ruan Robinson also submitted a petition related to Ward 22 in Beyers Park.

“This petition will follow the formal process after which the outcome will be communicated to the petitioners,” Gadebe said.