City Power and local business association unite to protect critical infrastructure

City Power (CP), in collaboration with Laserpark Business Association (LBA), restored a vandalised substation as a step to restore damaged electricity infrastructure in the city.

According to CP general manager Sibusiso Xulu, this renewed focus follows a serious act of vandalism at the Ridge Road Switching Station, an incident that could have had devastating consequences for businesses and residents. Protection cables were deliberately cut and piled against a wall, breaker panels removed, and additional cables damaged, pointing to a coordinated act of sabotage that placed the entire station at risk.

This switching station plays a critical role in supplying electricity to the Laserpark Industrial area and Honeypark. Delayed response could have resulted in the complete loss of the station, prolonged outages, and significant disruption to economic activity.

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CP’s protection acting team leader, Rendani Mudau, confirmed that copper cables had been stolen, leaving only the outer casing behind; clear evidence of targeted theft.

“To safeguard the station and prevent catastrophic failure, the team performed a short on the current transformers. This was necessary to ensure the station did not blow up entirely,” he explained.

While challenges remain, interim measures are being implemented to stabilise operations.

“Our protection team is sourcing additional relays so we can improvise and keep the station safe and operational while permanent repairs are underway,” Mudau added, highlighting the technical complexity of the response.

Recognising that infrastructure protection requires a united front, the LBA stepped in to support CP’s efforts. LBA spokesperson Naz Ismail confirmed that proactive security measures have been implemented, including the installation of CCTV cameras, improved lighting, and the deployment of armed guards to protect the facility during repairs.

“These interventions not only strengthen security at the switching station but also send a clear message that criminal activity targeting critical infrastructure will not be tolerated. Increased visibility, surveillance, and stakeholder presence act as strong deterrents against further vandalism and theft,” said Ismail.

Xulu further expressed appreciation for the LBA’s involvement, emphasising the importance of collaboration.

“This fight against infrastructure sabotage cannot be won by CP alone,” he said. “We are grateful to the LBA for standing with us to protect this vital asset for the community and local economy,” said Xulu.

Xulu also noted that recent outages in the area appear to be linked to cable faults, many suspected to be caused by theft. This highlights the broader and ongoing threat of infrastructure-related crime, which disrupts power supply and places a strain on service delivery.

The entity encourages customers and businesses to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.

“Protecting infrastructure is a shared responsibility, and every effort helps ensure a stable and sustainable electricity supply,” Xulu concluded.