Rising cable theft sparks concern among Klerksoord residents

The residents of Klerksoord in the north of Pretoria have raised concerns about deteriorating service delivery and rising crime in their community.

The concerns are exacerbated by extended power outages, the most recent lasting for days.

Residents said overgrown grass in the area aided cable thieves.

Mmaphuthi Mangena said with the inadequate maintenance of public spaces, many felt vulnerable to crime.

“It feels like we are living in a lawless zone.

“The lack of lighting not only makes the area less safe but also serves as an invitation to criminal activities, with cable theft becoming a prevalent issue,” said Mangena.

As residents spoke, it became clear that their call for improved service delivery was intricately tied to their safety and security.

Mangena said later a metro team arrived to repair a power failure.

He said together with residents, they went into the Winternest settlement where they uncovered illegal connections and stripped cable belonging to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).

This discovery made plain the scope of the problem they were facing.

Community leader Mickey van der Westhuizen played a crucial role in this unfolding narrative.

After being contacted by a resident about the alarming finding, he rushed to the site to support the community.

Together with the residents and Akasia police, they entered the informal settlement, where they stumbled upon a syndicate deeply entrenched in cable theft, illegal liquor sales, and drug trafficking.

Van der Westuizen said the level of criminal activity they uncovered was shocking.

“The police recovered a significant amount of stolen copper cables, illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco products.

“Tools commonly used for cable theft, such as bolt cutters, blowtorches and saws were also discovered,” he said.

Some residents expressed their gratitude for the police’s swift action and Van der Westuizen’s presence, appreciating the collaborative effort to confront these issues head-on.

“This is what community engagement looks like.

“This community involvement not only aided in the recovery of the stolen goods but also fostered a sense of empowerment among residents, many of whom felt neglected by the authorities in the past,” said Mangena.

In the wake of these events, the residents of Klerksoord have shown that they are not willing to be passive victims of crime.

As they continue to rally for better service delivery and crime prevention, they hope their voices will be heard and will lead to meaningful change in their community.

The rising cable theft cases and other criminal activities will require sustained efforts and a united front.

Klerksoord residents have taken the first step, and with continued collaboration between community members, local leaders and law enforcement, there is a potential for a brighter and safer future for all.

Tshwane is seeking legal advice on bringing criminal charges against homeowners or tenants who steal electricity by tampering with the meter.

According to the metro, the delinquent residents and criminals remove the fuse, swap transformers around or cut wires to the counter, which costs the metro money for repairs.

Criminals and rogue residents are systematically dismantling the city’s essential infrastructure through acts of cable theft, illegal connections and vandalism that leave service delivery in tatters and cause damage in the millions.

The metro said the cost of energy loss in Tshwane is estimated at over R800-million a year.

The ongoing illegal electricity connections, cable theft, vandalism repairs and disruption to service delivery to ratepayers have cost the metro over a million in less than a year.

Losses have increased from the estimated R470-million in the 2022/2023 fiscal year to over R800-million in the 2023/2024 financial year.

Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the figures are estimates but are currently being audited by an independent body after which the exact figures will be provided.

“Tshwane metro is grappling with a problem of electricity theft that threatens public safety and the electrical infrastructure.”

Mashigo said the cable theft figures are being compiled from the regions however are estimated to have cost over R10- million, including vandalism to infrastructure across the city.

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