MMC Mpho Moerane concerned about the increase of electricity cable theft
JOBURG – Since January 2021, City Power has had 144 incidents of cable theft to the value of R2.2 million.
Member of the Mayoral Committee of Environment and Infrastructure Services in the City of Johannesburg, councillor Mpho Moerane, has expressed concern over the increase in the number of electricity cable theft incidents across the city.
In a statement, Moerane said since the start of the current financial year, cables worth more than R14 million were stolen, plunging many suburbs into darkness for many days, some for weeks. This excluded the cost of the actual repair work to the infrastructure.
“Since January 2021, City Power has had 144 incidents of cable theft to the value of R2.2 million. In December 2020, there were 206 incidents of cable theft. Most of these incidents happened during the recent loadshedding stage 2 that was implemented across the country, although cable theft happens when the lights are on,” Moerane said.
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Moerane added that on 20 January alone, 11 cable theft incidents were reported, with six reported on 21 January.
Moerane has called on law enforcement agencies, the police, Metro police, neighbourhood watches, and CPFs to join hands with City Power to assist to curb the scourge. Forty-one suspects were arrested since July 2020 to date, with two arrested this January and 11 in December.
“Cable theft not only costs the City millions in lost revenue, but it also inconveniences customers and businesses, especially small business, during a time when the country is experiencing Covid-19 restrictions.”
Moerane concluded by stating that as part of its mitigating strategy, City Power had been replacing the copper cables with aluminium bundle cables, which have no value to cable thieves.
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