The AfriForum Noord van die Berg (North of the Mountain) neighbourhood team is continuing its efforts to restore areas damaged by illegal cable burning, while calling on residents to help identify hot-spots where cable thieves regularly strip and burn stolen infrastructure.
The clean-up, which began earlier this week, has already made a visible difference in affected areas in the Port between the Wonderboom Junction and the Hector Pieterson A Re Yeng bus station, where criminals frequently burn stolen cables to remove the plastic insulation and recover the valuable copper inside.
These activities leave behind burnt ground, toxic waste and unsightly debris, creating environmental and safety concerns for surrounding communities.
Volunteers have returned to several of these locations to remove waste and improve the appearance of the areas, to discourage further illegal activity and restore community pride.
AfriForum North branch’s Zanelle Janse van Rensburg said the success of the initiative depends on active community participation.
“Our neighbourhood team has made good progress since the clean-up started on Monday, and the difference is already noticeable. Unfortunately, cable burning remains an ongoing problem, which is why we need the community’s help.
“Residents are our eyes and ears, and by reporting places where cables are regularly burned, we can work together to develop practical solutions and keep these areas clean and safe,” said Janse van Rensburg.
She added that regular clean-ups alone are not enough to address the issue permanently and encouraged residents to work alongside the organisation by sharing information about known hot-spots.
The local organisation believes that community involvement is one of the most effective ways to combat the problem.
By identifying areas where cable burning frequently occurs, neighbourhood teams can respond more effectively and work with relevant stakeholders to prevent further incidents.
Janse van Rensburg thanked residents who have already contributed to the clean-up efforts and encouraged others to become involved.
“We cannot do this work without the support of the community. Every person who reports a hot-spot, volunteers during a clean-up or helps keep their neighbourhood clean plays an important role in protecting our communities,” she said.
Residents who are aware of locations where illegal cable burning regularly takes place are encouraged to contact AfriForum Noord van die Berg (North of the Mountain) so the organisation can include those areas in future clean-up and crime prevention initiatives.
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