City of Joburg MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) councillor Mpho Moerane has expressed concern over the increase in the number of electricity cable theft incidents across the City of Johannesburg.
Since the beginning of the current financial year, cables worth in excess of R14-million were stolen, plunging many suburbs into darkness for many days, some for weeks.
Since the beginning of January, City Power has had 144 incidents of cable theft to the value of R2.2-m. In December 2020 there were 206 incidents of cable theft. Most of these incidents happened during the recent loadshedding stage two that was implemented across the country, even though cable theft happens when the lights are on.
On January 20 alone, 11 cable theft incidents were reported, with six reported the following day.
The MMC has called on law enforcement agencies, the SAPS, JMPD, neighbourhood watches, and CPF 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.
The arrested suspects are in the custody of the SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority, where it is expected that they will get the appropriate sentence that fits the crimes.
Since the beginning of the financial year, the City lost R14.4-m worth of cables. This excludes the cost to the actual repairs work to the infrastructure and material.
Cable theft not only costs the City millions in lost revenue, it also inconveniences customers and businesses, especially small business, during a time when the country is experiencing Covid-19 restrictions.
As part of its mitigating strategy, City Power has been replacing the copper cables with aluminum bundle cables, which have no value to cable thieves.
