Vandalising mini substations, opening boxes, tripping breakers and setting cables alight are all suspected to be deliberate acts of sabotage in many areas. This is according to City Power after its substations in Honeydew and Witpoortjie had been vandalised.
Spokesperson for City Power, Isaac Mangena said they were picking up on deliberate act intended to trip the network and leave many areas in the dark. “We firmly believe that there are people who engage in acts of sabotage against City Power and hell bent on inconveniencing customers with power outages.”
On Wednesday September 15, a man was spotted by a passer-by around Berreta Street in Honeydew fiddling with the mini substation. Later there was an outage affecting the same mini substation. Mangena said earlier in the same week, nine mini substations in Honeydew were tripped on purpose.
“In Witpoortjie on Wednesday night, September 15 a mini substation was vandalised and set alight. It is believed to have been caused by an illegal connection. Other network installations are just opened and left as is, and that poses a risk and danger to residents, especially children.”
Mangena warned that fiddling with electricity infrastructure is not only dangerous but it is a criminal offence. “We appeal to the residents to be vigilant and keep an eye out for any suspicious people around our electricity infrastructure.”
Contact Security Risk Control on 011 490 7900/ 7484 or call the local police.
