Residents in Ward 64 are taking matters into their own hands to protect local infrastructure by donating floodlights for three substations to deter cable theft and vandalism.

The initiative, led by Ward 64 councillor Alta de Kock, has already seen lights installed at The Reeds South substation on Porter Street, with Rooihuiskraal and The Reeds next in line.

The effort comes amid concerns over the absence of municipal security guards after the city’s previous security contracts expired on September 30.

De Kock said vandalism at the Zwartkop substation on October 14, which left residents without electricity for three days, prompted her to ask the community for help.

”Huge damage was caused at the substation, and residents were without power for three days. If this happened because of a lack of security, it could happen to the residents in my ward as well,” she said.

Residents donate lights for three substations

Residents responded by donating 30W, 50W and 100W LED floodlights, as well as day-night switches.

”By October 17, we had enough for three substations. Ward 64 residents responded so quickly. We had everything we needed within four days,’ she said.

The Reeds South substation was prioritised because it had previously been vandalised.

The councillor confirmed that the remaining installations will be completed soon, depending on the availability of Wierdabrug Sector 2 Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson Thinus Marais, who is doing the work in his spare time.

De Kock said better lighting would help security personnel identify suspicious activity, particularly digging around underground cables.

“We have private security companies assisting by adding the substations to their patrol routes. However, when it is dark, they cannot easily see whether there has been any activity or digging,” she said.

“We want to make it as difficult as possible for thieves to steal cables. At the moment, it is dark, making it easier for them to start digging without being noticed.”

Marais said poor lighting around streets and municipal infrastructure remained a concern.

He noted that improved visibility could help CPF personnel identify suspicious activity, although lighting alone could not guarantee that further incidents would be prevented.

De Kock added that keeping grass short and maintaining clean areas would also make site inspections easier.

City rejects claims of abandoned security

Community Safety MMC Hannes Coetzee confirmed that the previous security contracts expired on September 30 after extensions while a new procurement process was under way.

He said appointing new service providers had taken longer than expected because of supply chain and probity processes.

Coetzee said the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department is co-ordinating enhanced interim security measures to protect municipal infrastructure, including working with private security companies that had volunteered to assist.

He rejected claims that the city had abandoned infrastructure protection, saying interim measures would remain in place until service providers were appointed.

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