It is the year of elections and we keep mentioning it because it is important.
Elections are after all not about ego or about self-gain for the political parties, but it is about the people, and it is about service delivery.
Here is some free advice for any political party in order to gain support at the elections: Come up with a way to curb cable theft.
And also in Gauteng, find a way to deal once and for all with e-tolls.
For now, let us focus on cable theft since this is becoming a serious problem in Boksburg. There is nothing funny about it. It constantly plunges suburbs and people’s lives into darkness.
That has prompted the debate about what is being done to curb such a crime.
Apparently, there are thousands of kilometres of cables laid in Boksburg, so how do you monitor or patrol every inch of the city?
I remember a time while still living in Plantation that cables were constantly stolen. And many times at the exact same spot. On one such frustrating occasion, a cable was stolen one day after it was installed to replace a previously stolen cable.
It is madness, so you have to ask what is being done because surely there must be some kind of solution.
Or is this a war destined to be lost, as the war against drugs? And yes, do not fool yourselves into thinking drug trafficking is not ruling the roost.
Do you know the EMPD has an Anti-Cable Theft Unit? The Advertiser has reported on this unit before, but with so many cables, and so many people who it seems sees this as an easy opportunity to score, the task of enforcing the law becomes tricky.
There is a general opinion that the metro must monitor more closely the hot spot areas where cables have been stolen, but then again, the criminals will eventually move on to find different pastures.
There is also the question being asked if cables cannot be properly secured once installed. I guess this comes down to money and probably certain levels of expertise being deployed.
Also consider, while there is a demand then there will be a supply. So maybe one should rather tackle the ones that actually buy the stolen cables, for this is the lifeblood and oxygen of the criminals.
Buyers will eventually starve the supply.
And then, law enforcement will say the community must also pay its part by being vigilant in order to prevent it.
For those who do not know, you can report cable theft to Ekurhuleni metro on 086 054 3000 or to the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department on 011 999 2440/2450.
So if you see someone digging a trench, stop and ask them if they have a work order. They must have an official work order – if they do not, you must report it.
If you smell plastic burning or you see cables burning, report it.
If you see people fiddling on overheads, ask for the work order or report it.
If you see someone carrying cables or transporting cables, report it.
Residents are encouraged to report cable theft or any illegal electricity connections, and even to take photos of vehicles and people.
Remember, it is important to gather enough relevant evidence like photos, street names and registration numbers before making reports.
At the end of the day, cable theft will only be addressed through a huge collective effort of political will coupled with the will of the communities.
It is, after all, costing government millions and has a huge negative impact on productivity and morale.
So let us be vigilant, for this is a war of attrition that also requires a resolve of steel.
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