Starting the day with no morning coffee, dressing in the dark and then rushing off to work, only to be stuck in traffic because of a power outage is something we are all too familiar with. Learning that the cause of this outage is cable theft – again – ignites a feeling of hopeless anger and frustration in us.
However, although cable theft impacts our daily activities heavily, it has far more serious financial implications.
According to Bertha Scheepers, a spokesperson for the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), saving the city’s assets from theft and vandalism is challenging. Some intersections in Roodepoort and Florida are targeted by cable thieves regularly, causing road congestion, negatively affecting travelling time, and thus contributing to huge economic costs.
“The replacement costs for 2015/ 16 amounted to more than R5 million, and copper theft has increased to such an extent that the JRA is losing an average of R10 million a year to this practice alone,” said Scheepers.
City Power is launching an awareness campaign to help prevent cable theft, which costs South Africans approximately R5 billion per annum.
According to Yumna Sheik, a spokesperson for City Power, huge challenges in achieving their service delivery goals are experienced, as almost 45 per cent of power outages are caused by cable theft. Annually, more than 2 000 cable theft incidents are experienced, resulting in redoubled efforts to minimise the impact on residents and businesses, and increased tariffs for ordinary South Africans.
Overhead cables are being replaced with aluminium which has no value to criminals in an effort to minimise the impact thieves have.
Scrap-metal dealers in hot-spots are also being investigated by City Power with the help of various law enforcement and government agencies. High-risk areas are also patrolled by City Power with their own response vehicles.
Government has been requested to classify cable theft as an act of economic sabotage and an amendment has been tabled for heavier sentences to be handed down for convicted cable thieves.
Sheik continued, saying, “We are encouraged by the urgency with which Government is treating this issue. We are also confident the imposition of maximum sentences will deter those who selfishly use our infrastructure as an easy source of income.”
Residents are urged to report any suspicious activity to City Power’s 24-hour control-room on 011 490 7911/ 7900/ 75553 or toll free on 0800 003 251. Alternatively, you can report such activity to your nearest police station.
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