Press Release
11 September 2020
South Africa is experiencing a rapid increase in the criminal act of cable theft. This is a crime that affects everyone as it has an impact on the delivery of crucial services, primarily the provision of electricity, public transport, and telephone and Internet services.
Power outages, often caused by cable theft, can lead to an increase in crime as properties are more vulnerable. It also results in municipalities having to spend taxpayers’ money to replace or repair cables stolen or damaged by thieves. It further diverts resources that could have been better utilised elsewhere. Worst of all however is the potential loss of innocent lives due to electrocution, or fires as a result of exposed cables.
In 2019, in Van der Stel Street in Paarl – one of the more recent examples - thieves not only stole the new copper cables less than a week after they were replaced. They also robbed Drakenstein Municipality’s technicians in broad daylight while they were repairing the damaged infrastructure.
Given that conducting repairs became not only additional expenditure but also dangerous for municipal staff, the Municipality had to find an alternative solution.
It was decided that to be able to conduct repairs and address cable theft, all copper cables would be replaced by aluminium cables as had been done in Vlakkeland on Jan Van Riebeeck Road. This led to a steep decline in cable theft.
Given the additional expense of replacing the copper cables, the project could only begin in the new financial year that started on 1 July 2020. The process of appointing a contractor is already underway and repairs are expected to begin in Van der Stel Street later this month.
Drakenstein Municipality is working together with various law enforcement agencies and farm watches to combat cable theft in the municipal area. The Municipality’s Law Enforcement division is using smart technology such as drones, cable alarms and monitors, and quick and easy radio communication with all security agencies to expedite its response to these incidents.
The Municipality calls on the Drakenstein community to assist in combatting cable theft by reporting those individuals or syndicates who put people’s lives and livelihoods at risk to the Municipality at 080 131 3553 toll free.
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Issued by:
Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
