Hike in cable theft
Cable theft has taken on new dimension with massive increases between May and July this year – costing the city million in lost revenue.
The Tshwane metro has been accused of failing to protect the interest of its biggest customers by not doing enough to stop the scourge of cable theft in Pretoria.
Using the production plant of BMW in Rosslyn, in the north of the metro, as an example, Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on electricity, Ina Strijdom, claimed the metro did not even try to safeguard the motor manufacturer against cable theft.
“The economic impact on the metro due to cable theft runs into millions of rand every month. BMW is one of the biggest generators of income to the metro. The company was in fact one of the first to receive smart prepaid electricity meters to assist in funding the smart meter project,” Strijdom said.
She said the DA was aware the metro police had established the Special Project Unit to guard substations and assist with fighting cable theft and commended the council for doing so.
“However, their resources are limited. How does a team of 20 people, working in four shifts – five men per shift – manage to curb cable theft throughout the whole of Pretoria?” she asked.
“The team might be busy in Centurion while all the underground cables are stolen in Rosslyn or Soshanguve.”
The metro seriously needed to start protecting its biggest assets – its residents and its revenue, she warned, adding there were state-of-the-art smart technology products on the market to prevent cable theft.
“This technology does not only prevent cable theft, but is capable of alerting the necessary teams to the fact of potential cable theft when cable routes are being exposed,” Strijdom said.
Manpower and alarm systems were not enough and guards at substations did not help when cables were being stolen 200 metres further away.
She said cable theft had increased drastically, especially during May and July.
In addition to Centurion, being a major target for cable thieves, Rosslyn, the Moot and more recently the east of Pretoria, had also in recent months experienced a number of cable thefts.
Mostly underground cables in open and isolated areas were being targeted and guarding these kilometres of underground cables by just using manpower was nearly impossible, she said.
Strijdom claimed the business sector and residents were suffering continuously as a result of cable theft, but the metro was seemingly turning a blind eye despite promises made during mayor Kgosientso Ramkgopa’s state-of-the-capital address that the crime would be prioritised.
“It is not only the loss of revenue that impacts negatively on the metro, but also the millions of rand lost on infrastructural damage during the theft.
“Money spent on protection of substations and cable theft would save revenue currently lost on meter collection losses during area power outages. Money spent on protection would thus, in the long run, be an investment.”
Also read:
Train commuters left stranded after cable theft
Cable theft a huge problem in Ga-Rankuwa
Four women at large after theft
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