Eskom promises to secure Sundimbili, Shakaskraal substations to avoid further blackouts

Cable theft has been a hot issue throughout the North Coast in recent weeks, with large areas from Ballito to Mandeni left without electricity for extended periods.

Business Against Crime (BAC) in Mandeni took matters into their own hands, asking residents and business owners to donate money for an updated security system at the Sundimbili substation to protect against further losses.

“If we lose power for a day, that means millions in losses for businesses in the area,” said Steve Fox of BAC.

“We are just hoping the community can rally together to stop this threat.”

Fox said Eskom had since committed to securing the Sundimbili substation at their own cost and had acknowledged the escalation of cable theft countrywide.

Eskom communications and stakeholder relations manager for KZN, Joyce Zingoni said security at the Shakaskraal substation had been beefed up with security monitoring and armed response companies.

“Further measures include lowering the depth of the cables and covering them with sand and stone to make access more difficult,” she said, with contractors already on site last week.

KwaDukuza Ward 22 Councillor, Privi Makhan confirmed that progress had also been made on the Shakaskraal substation case.

“Law enforcement agencies in KwaDukuza conducted two joint operations on Friday, September 4 at identified high risk areas.

While arrests were effected, the teams also recovered 10 electric isolators, 11 electric high voltage cables and 1 high voltage electrical box.”

Although inroads have been made to curb the illicit activity, Makhan has started a petition to ensure the threat of cable theft is closely monitored by local Saps and Eskom.

“While the scourge of cable theft threatens lives and livelihoods, Eskom substations in the KwaDukuza region remain unmanned,” she says.

There has been no response from Eskom regarding the petition, says Makhan.