Crippling scourge of cable theft costing city millions
The eThekwini Municipality says efforts to reduce the prevalence of cable theft include replacing copper cables with aluminium ones that are less likely to be targeted by thieves.
THE eThekwini Municipality has said that the scourge of cable theft is not isolated to “one specific area” but is a widespread “illegal act” crippling the City’s electrical infrastructure and draining millions from its coffers annually.
The municipality’s spokesperson Gugu Sisilana was responding to a media inquiry about the prevalence of concerning cable theft resulting in regular power outages in Ward 103, which has caused the area’s councillor, Linda Mchunu, “sleepless nights”.
The continuous trouble of cable theft led to a community meeting in Shayamoya in December, at which, Mchunu said, a trio of suspected cable thieves confessed to their crimes.
Though the City is unaware of this alleged confession, according to Sisilana, the municipality has encouraged residents to report such incidents to law enforcement because they are punishable criminal offences.
“The City has a dedicated team that works closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that justice is served,” said Sisilana.
Also read: Cable theft resulting in power outages plaguing community
To reduce the adverse impact cable theft has had, Sisilana said the municipality’s “Energy Management Directorate has made concerted efforts to replace copper cables, which are more vulnerable to theft, with aluminium cables that are less likely to be targeted”.
Meanwhile, Mchunu has urged Shayamoya residents, and those from surrounding areas within the ward, to actively take part in efforts to bring to an end the theft of power cables.
The councillor said that cable theft has become such a major concern because almost every second day reports surface of incidents of this crime.
Mchunu said the theft of power cables fails to abate despite regular night patrols by officers from one of the police stations in the ward, Intshanga Police Station.
The councillor said efforts to address this have included attempts to revive community policing forums and neighbourhood watches.
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