The latest incident of theft and vandalism to the City of Cape Town’s electricity infrastructure along Jakes Gerwel Drive will cost more than R1,6 million to repair. This is money that could rather be used to enhance services.
Along Jakes Gerwel Drive in recent weeks, criminals have not only been stealing the complete streetlight units, but also the wiring in the lamps. These actions are severely impacting the service to residents in the surrounding areas and road users. We urge residents to help us bring an end to these actions by reporting any suspicious activities to the South African Police Service (SAPS) or to the City.
The South African Police Service remains the lead authority in crime prevention.
The City calls on residents to assist us to bring criminals who are severely vandalising and stealing electricity infrastructure across the metro to book. In recent weeks, criminals and criminal syndicates have managed to steal complete electricity streetlight units, some as high as 11 meters. Security patrols will continue so that infrastructure can be protected. All hotspot areas are being monitored to reduce the impact of theft, vandalism and damage to infrastructure. However, given the varying demands on our staff, it is not possible to have a dedicated presence at all hotspots all of the time.
‘These acts are well organised and cannot take place without anyone noticing. The streetlights in Jakes Gerwel Drive are more than 11 meters high and it would require specialised equipment to commit these crimes. A total of 80 individual streetlights were damaged including more than 160 light fittings along this stretch in the latest incident and it will cost the City R1,6 million to repair. We urge residents to report any suspicious activity as soon as it happens. The City has spent considerable resources in trying to keep the lights on along Jakes Gerwel Drive, which is a hotspot for illegal connections and vandalism and attacks against our staff and contractors.
‘We cannot allow this to continue. We will continue to conduct patrols on Jakes Gerwel Drive and in the other identified hotspot areas around the metro, as our resources allow,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy and Climate Change, Councillor Phindile Maxiti.
R5 000 reward offered
The City offers a reward of R5 000 to anyone who provides information that leads to arrest, confiscation of stolen or illegal goods or the handing-in of illegal or stolen goods. This reward is also applicable to information leading to the arrest of people vandalising, damaging or stealing electricity infrastructure or installing illegal connections. Tampering, theft and vandalism of essential electricity infrastructure, is seen as a priority crime, and as per Section 2 of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act (Act 18 0f 2015), imprisonment not exceeding 30 years and fines not exceeding R100 million is possible, when found guilty. Electricity theft is often driven by well-oiled criminal syndicates, which operate across communities.
Report damage to municipal electrical infrastructure:
SMS: 31220
Email: power@capetown.gov.za