The City of Cape Town’s Electricity Services Department has reported three incidents of vandalism and theft that have had costly financial repercussions.
All three incidents took place at substations in the Wynberg area within a week and have been reported to the South African Police Services and the City’s own Metals Theft Unit, known as the ‘Copperheads’.
The low-voltage boxes were removed from the substations, even though the doors were welded closed. All the substations are fenced and all had locks on them as an effort to protect them from vandalism and theft.
“The City condemns these criminal acts and calls on communities to assist us in protecting our infrastructure, in order to ensure the continued provision of services and the prevention of costly and unnecessary repairs,” says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg.
The City managed to repair the damage at all three substations within 48 hours after the incident.
The three incidents were as follows:
- 9 September 2013: Kromboom and M5 area affected, repair cost approximately R200 000
- 5 September 2013: Wetton and M5 area affected, repair cost approximately R200 000
- 2 September 2013: Wetton business area affected, repair cost approximately R400 000
“As part of being a caring and well-run City, we call on our residents to assist us in protecting our costly infrastructure and to report any illegal activities that they are aware of,” says Councillor Sonnenberg.
Residents can report any such incidents through the following channels:
- copper theft – 0800 222 771
- vandalism, i.e. malicious damage to property, to the South African Police Services
or Metro Police on 021 596 1999 - general damage to City infrastructure – 0860 103 089
- electricity-related queries -0860 103 089; SMS 31220 or e-mail FaultReporting.Centre@capetown.gov.za
