Cable theft continues to be a concern at Zoo Lake.

The latest incident occurred on September 30, when a 5m section of the walkway was dug up as thieves attempted to access cables.

Alex Weiss, from Friends of Zoo Lake, said the incidents had become a recurring problem in recent months. “Since July, cable thieves have returned four or five times, stripping copper wiring from the old pedestrian lights around the lake,” Weiss said.

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In response, Friends of Zoo Lake has brought in a private electrician to assess the old lights and establish whether the wiring is still live.

The assessment will also help determine which of the redundant lights can be safely removed, potentially reducing the risk of further damage and theft.

Fran Haslam, chairperson and managing director of the Zoo Lake Users Committee, said cable theft was part of a wider security and infrastructure challenge facing the area. She said the lake had experienced persistent theft of electrical cables and damage to public property.

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Haslam said enhanced security measures and access control had been proposed to address some of these challenges.

The impact also extends beyond electrical infrastructure, with recurring damage to landscaping and irrigation systems resulting in maintenance resources being diverted from routine work.

According to Haslam, the repeated repairs have placed an additional financial and operational burden on those responsible for maintaining the area.

The Rosebank Killarney Gazette reached out to Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo on October 1 and City Power on October 2 for comment on the ongoing cable theft and the affected infrastructure.

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