Cable theft is an ongoing problem in various parts of the city, but may even be leaving residents in the dark for longer still.
In July last year, Silverton and Meyerspark came under the radar of cable thieves with ward councillor Ben Chapman claiming the community policing forum (CPF) and the Tshwane metro police had vowed to increase patrols to curb the problem.
He however said it was very difficult to protect the about 47 000 lampposts in the east of Pretoria alone.
The MMC for utility services, Darryl Moss said the metro cable theft unit had been relatively successful in curbing the crime by arresting both the thieves themselves and the scrap metal dealers who bought the stolen materials.
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Chapman said about 80 new cases of cable theft were reported in his ward since June.
Another cable theft hot spot was along Garsfontein Road in the Mooikloof substation feeder area, according to Councillor Reyaan Uys.
This had resulted in monthly electricity disruptions.
Uys previously said thieves targeted the line between the Mooikloof and Woodhill substations.
Uys said he had seen some improvement in curbing cable theft in his ward “but we can still improve”.
