The Vaal is a decisive flashpoint in the interlinked copper syndicate wars erupting all over South Africa due to the region’s copper-rich industries and highly vulnerable municipal, Eskom, Telkom and Transnet cable infrastructure.

The cable sabotage epidemic is driven by insatiable demand for stolen copper in China, after processing by organised criminals with global logistical networks, say intelligence sources and VBC.

The Vaal is a flashpoint because syndicates believe police and the criminal justice system in the region are dysfunctional, and criminals can thus act without fear, says VBC MD Kevin Jackson.

VBC is well-known for many repair projects of municipal electrical infrastructure in Vereeniging, giving business and residents a lifeline amidst regular blackouts.

Jackson says VBC decided to cooperate closely with SSG Security and Afri Guard who were outstanding corporate citizens going far beyond the call of duty to keep power supply going to business and residents as much as possible.

“Our approach is based squarely on crime prevention and pro-actively preventing syndicates from stealing cables and so causing hugely expensive blackouts for residents and business.

“Without these interventions Vereeniging CBD would by now be completely stripped of copper cable with massive economic and public health costs for everyone,” says Jackson.

Sharing intelligence from various sources, VBC, SSG and Afri Guard have taken the lead in actively disrupting syndicates digging not only ELM cables but stripping Transnet facilities in Vereeniging.

One big recent syndicate cable dig was disrupted by intelligence given by ELM MMC (Member of Mayoral Committee) for Public Safety, Councillor Elias Mokoena, which enabled Afri Guard and SSG to launch a targeted operation.

Arrested suspects were handed over to police.

VBC works closely with communities and organisations such as the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) on infrastructure repair and now also preventing cable theft, said Jackson.

GTCoC President Klippies Kritzinger says police and prosecutors need to reach out to business more systematically to prevent cable theft and sabotage and to break syndicates.

“VBC, SSG and Afriguard are doing excellent work but we recognise they cannot win this war on their own against the overwhelming numbers and fire-power of organised crime.

“It is only a matter of time before a bloodbath takes place and so police and courts must be more proactive and work together with the private sector to keep arrested gang members off the streets and into jail,” says Kritzinger.