City Power seeks to partner with communities to fight theft and vandalism as the power utility has been suffering huge losses due to vandalism and theft of their infrastructure.
According to City Power, they have recorded over 944 incidents of theft and vandalism, with 2175 recorded in 2021/22 financial year.
The power utility indicated that the area of Roodepoort has been the hardest hit, with fuses, cables, light fittings, among those targeted.
“While efforts were made and progress achieved by City Power, especially with the collaboration with the communities, CPF, neighbourhood watch, police and Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), there’s still more to be done.
“For starters, we’d like to formalise this collaboration with the communities through the Community Partnership Programme on security of the Electricity Network Infrastructure.
“The Programme seeks to create sustainable partnership with local communities, businesses and other interested local community parties to assist us in protecting City Power electricity network infrastructure.
“With this programme, the objective is to establish sustainable partnerships with community-based structures in order to protect City Power electricity network infrastructure against essential infrastructure crimes such as theft, damage, vandalism, tampering or illegal connection;
“We need to maintain stable and open communication with the community we serve on security risk factors and vulnerabilities affecting City Power electricity network infrastructure.
“This, we believe, will deepen local government and communities’ partnership in fighting essential infrastructure crimes in order to collectively contribute to the growth and prosperity of the City of Johannesburg,” said City Power Spokesperson Isaac Mangena.
City Power invites interested parties to download the forms from the website www.citypower.co.za and comment on this programme by emailing to City Power Security Management at email: CPPS@citypower.co.za by not later than December 15.