Cable thieves are adding to the load-shedding frustrations in the City of Mbomela (CoM) as they continue to steal street lights cables, with residents demanding urgent action.

Lowvelder spoke to some municipal residents who want this increasing problem to be put on record. Criminals have now shifted their attention to the main line in the wake of the CoM trying to keep up with replacing the stolen cables of residential lights.

It is believed thieves are using hacksaws to cut lamp posts to steal the cables before selling them. An increasing number of traffic lights are out of order for different reasons while others have had their cables stolen. One eyewitness, Godfrey Sondlane, said some of the thieves are stealing in broad daylight. “Some of the guys use a hacksaw during the day as it does not make noise, and they do not even look suspicious while busy. It’s either they cut the bolt at the bottom of the pole or they cut it in the lamp post where they can pull the cables and cut them,” Sondlane said. He added that the problem has been continuing for some time now because all the municipality does is replace the stolen cables time and time again.

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The enterprising thieves are targeting specific lights on busy roads with few pedestrians because no one pays attention. In residential areas they target streets that are not busy and pretend to be working on the lights when they notice people.

Resident Devon Naidoo said it is the CoM’s responsibility to keep people safe. Naidoo said he is aware that criminals steal these cables, but the municipality should have some sort of security to patrol the affected areas. “These criminals are taking advantage of the situation as they know they can cut the cables unnoticed. The CoM is aware that it’s always the same area that is targeted.”

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Another resident, Maggy Magagula, has a different opinion. She said it is not only the municipality’s responsibility to safeguard the infrastructure, but also that of community members. “These criminals reside with us and we sometimes protect them or buy cables from them. The lights service us and we therefore need to intervene by reporting them when we see them stealing the cables. The municipality must make sure that all perpetrators are brought to book. They must also maintain the lights.”

The spokesperson for the CoM, Joseph Ngala, said they are are aware of the continued infrastructure vandalism by criminals, including the street lights cable theft. “We will continue to repair, but we will also step up security measures as this has become a growing epidemic countrywide. We also appeal to our citizens to report these incidents when they see them as they’re committed, mostly at night,” Ngala said.