The DA in Steve Tshwete says Steve Tshwete Local Municipality’s municipal manager Mandla Mnguni must take proactive measures to protect municipal infrastructure, after the municipality lost more than R7.2m in stolen assets.

The DA previously reported that vandalism, cable theft and attacks on electrical infrastructure were increasing in Middelburg due to a shortage of law enforcement officers.

At the beginning of August, the municipality revealed that municipal infrastructure was prone to such attacks because it had a total of just 27 officers and that its operations ceased at 22:00.

As a result, the municipality experienced 428 incidents of theft, vandalism and cable theft in the past 12 months, costing the municipality more than R7.2m.

“Given that this amounts to 20% of the Technical and Infrastructure Services budget, the DA considers the municipality’s reluctance to extend law enforcement operating hours illogical,” DA councillor Stefan Smith said.

According to the DA, Steve Tshwete is presently plagued by a series of service delivery failures, such as dysfunctional streetlights, persistent sewage spills and freshwater pollution.

Because of such shortcomings, the municipality has failed to attract investors and create employment opportunities for its residents, Smith alleged.

The municipality has called on residents to report all suspicious behaviour around municipal infrastructure, including water meters, wheelie bins, cables and other fixed assets.

Clear video or photographic evidence is required for the municipality to act against transgressors.

The municipality has not confirmed receipt of the DA’s complaint and has not responded to an enquiry from the Observer.