A spate of cable thefts that often led to prolonged power blackouts have led to residents of a Limpopo township taking measures into their own hands to protect electricity infrastructure.
Community members in Greenside near Seshego have resorted to wrapping up power cables on street poles with metallic zinc tied tightly together with wire.
The residents, who buy the zinc sheets from their own pockets, say this is one sure fire way of deterring thieves from cutting off the cables under cover of darkness.
Calvin Ngobeni said he has been a victim once and during that time he had to survive using fire to cook.
“We use this method because it hides the cables and makes it difficult to steal. And it seems to be working,” said Ngobeni.
He added that thieves have not taken a chance since residents resorted to this measure in recent months.
Another resident, Tlou Ledwaba, said she has been a victim of cable theft twice. She said in the latest incident of theft recently, it took the Polokwane local municipality two weeks to replace the cable.
“It is unfortunate that I had to experience [cable] theft twice, and it's even worse now that it takes the municipality so long to repair it. This time it hurt me greatly because it was only fixed after two weeks of living without electricity. I had to make means to survive, and on top of that I lost perishable items like refrigerated meals,” she said.
The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry has revealed that annual economic losses from cable theft ranges from R5bn to R7bn. Last year, Gauteng police announced the establishment of the Essential Infrastructure Task Teams (EITT) to combat theft of on infrastructure including electrical cables.
Dan Pheme, another Greenside resident, noted that while people may believe they are protecting their electrical lines, this is not a safe practice.
Pheme warned this method could result in people getting electrocuted or injured as the shields are installed by people with no training in electrical work. He said the absence of policing and formalised patrolling forums in the neighbourhood was part of the reason for the theft cases which often occur at night during load shedding.
Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala said “as much as this is not legal, the community finds itself in a predicament”.
“Cable theft is a problem and the community members are grouping themselves and doing everything in their power to protect their service infrastructure,” said Selala.
Chairperson of the Limpopo Community Policing Forum, Frans Kgasago, warned the measures taken up by residents could be a safety hazard.
“It is indeed dangerous because if it happens that the zinc cuts the cables by mistake, what will happen to their lives? Electric power is more dangerous,” warned Kgasago.
He added that cable theft is a very serious concern in the area from a while back and that he is available to arrange a community police forum in the area to start patrolling for the safety of people.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Limpopo police arrested three undocumented immigrants aged between 19 and 27 in Nebo outside Sekhukhune after they were found in possession of suspected stolen copper cables.
Provincial police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba said investigations revealed that the copper cables were stolen from eight shops which were no longer in business around Brooklyn and Makoshala villages.
He said copper cables, ladders, bolt cutters as well as the car the suspects were travelling in were confiscated. The suspects were charged with possession of suspected stolen properties and contravention of the Immigration Act. – Mukurukuru Media
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