DA calls for urgent action as cable theft leaves Ekurhuleni residents in the dark
More than 45 incidents of cable theft have left residents and businesses facing economic strain. The DA’s petition calls on Ekurhuleni council to move the affected supply line to Rietfontein Road and enforce stronger security measures.
The DA has submitted a petition to the Ekurhuleni council demanding that the supply cable from Pretoria Road and Main Reef Road be moved to a more secure location on Rietfontein Road to prevent cable theft.
Ward 36 Clr Wendy Morgan said that from January 2025 to date, there have been more than 45 reported incidents of theft.
“This has resulted in no less than 20 major power outages. Despite the monitoring of this stretch of cable by private security companies, CPFs, and the EMPD, this cable remains susceptible to theft and vandalism,” said Morgan.
She said residents and businesses that receive their electricity supply from this cable can no longer weather the socio-economic storm the prolonged outages have set in motion.
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“This is not a discretionary item or a luxury, but an essential measure – the only logical solution to the current cable theft crisis,” said Morgan.
She said the council must implement the recommendations contained in the petition to avert further costly cable replacements, which leave residents in dire straits.
The mayor has acknowledged
the ongoing cable theft in the city and said they have noted the hotspots, and the city is working to address the issue.
“The city is busy securing the technology. Also, the city is collaborating with security companies together with law enforcement to ensure the monitoring of the hotspot area,” said Ekurhuleni mayor, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza.
He said a city that works is a city that is well-maintained. That is why the administration has prioritised the day-to-day services that matter most to residents.
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“We increased the budget for repairs and maintenance by R400m, bringing our total investment in looking after our existing infrastructure to R3.1b for the 2024 financial year. This means we are getting our depots working again and focusing on the basics.
“The R1.3b allocated to the Department of Energy is being used to fix streetlights and replace stolen cables to make our neighbourhoods safer,” said Xhakaza.
