Unlocked electricity boxes pose risk for west residents
"Electricity danger boxes are no longer locked and their doors are always wide open," says local residents.
Residents in the west are worried about unlocked electricity power boxes which they believe are the reason for cables being stolen.
Pretoria reportedly faces a major problem with copper theft which also negatively impacts west citizens.
The metro believes stolen cables are sold to scrap dealers or used for illegal connections.
“Two years ago, thieves took our cables and we went without power for almost three days,” said Sophi Makinta, a Danville resident.
Makinta said the power boxes were no longer locked and their doors were always wide open.
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“It is no longer safe because our children can end up playing with the cables inside the boxes and get electrocuted.
Another local resident Pieter Maluleke called on the metro to fix issues he had with electricity.
“After being left without power, I would report the issue to the metro only for them to say the boxes had been tampered with.
“They would report that some cables were switched with other houses’ cables and this would disrupt the electricity flow to my house,” said Maluleke.
Verona Makhubela said she noticed high school learners sat on top of these power boxes after school. She was worried they were at risk of being electrocuted.
Sherlock Letseka, a resident in Philip Nel Park said even street lights in the area were being targeted.
“Most of the streetlight poles are no longer working. Cables have been removed and it is now difficult to see things during the night.
“Some take the cables to sell so they can be able to buy drugs,” said Letseka.
The estimated loss due to copper theft is approximately R5-billion every year according to Pretoria West police spokesperson Constable Sibongile Vuma.
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She said that it was an on-going situation happening in different areas.
“We have recovered different amounts of cables that have been confiscated from different suspects.
“There are also sector vehicles that are being deployed daily to monitor the local areas to avoid cable theft,” said Vuma.
Frik de Bruin who is part of an NGO crime activist group called XseBlixem in the west, said that it was very tough to get these suspects.
“Some of the cables stolen are not for money and recently, most of the copper cables that had been stolen has been illegally sold to scrapyards.
“We have really tried everything in order to get the metro to work with us but we have failed.
“Now it is best to report these matters to the metro and hopefully they will do their part and intervene.
“We have tried our best,” he said.
The metro had yet to provide comment by the time of publication.
The metro’s website offers the following tips on how to spot suspicious activity:
– Criminals often pose as contractors working for Eskom or Tshwane metro, removing cables illegally.
– A substantial amount of theft takes place late at night or very early in the morning so if you see “contractors” removing cables at these odd times, regard it as suspicious.
– Individuals walking around with cutting tools in construction outwears.
– People removing overhead cables without a job card.
– Suspicious vehicles like bakkies, trucks and minibuses with occupants pretending to conduct electrical work.
– No signage on the vehicle.
– Do not approach suspects.
– Report suspicious activity to Eskom electricity’s call centre 08600-37566, SAPS 011-375-5911 or metro cable theft emergency line 012-358-7095.
– Monitor the movements and details of people and vehicles. Note the vehicle registration, description of person and clothing.
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