Cape Town is grappling with an alarming surge in electricity vandalism and illegal connections. According to the latest records, the City of Cape Town has documented a staggering 201 such incidents in the third quarter of 2023.
Within these grim statistics, the Mitchells Plain and Philippi district emerges as the hardest hit, accounting for a whopping 85 of these recorded incidents. Disturbingly, these numbers peaked in September 2023, with 81 cases in Area South, 27 in Area North and 18 in Area East.
‘While we are witnessing a reduction in vandalism incidents in several areas, it is deeply concerning to note the surge in vandalism in Area South, especially in the Mitchells Plain district,’ expressed Councillor Beverley van Reenen, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy.
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The Mitchells Plain district encompasses not only Mitchells Plain but also adjacent regions like Lotus River, Grassy Park and Philippi. All these areas are emerging as hotspots for electricity vandalism and illegal connections.
A substantial cost of approximately R4 million has been incurred in the last three months for the repair and replacement of damaged infrastructure. Even more disheartening is the recurrence of these incidents, with vandals targeting the same infrastructure repeatedly.
‘In areas like Philippi and its surroundings, we are witnessing a disheartening pattern of recurring incidents. Despite our efforts to conduct regular disconnections of illegal connections, these acts of vandalism persist,’ added Councillor Beverley van Reenen.
On a brighter note, some areas within Cape Town have experienced a significant decline in vandalism incidents. Districts like Muizenberg, Mowbray, Helderberg, Bloemhof and Atlantis have each reported fewer than five incidents in the past three months.
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‘Community support and reporting are proving invaluable in our efforts to curb these incidents. Every call to the City and the South African Police Service makes a difference. Let’s act, stand up and unite to bring these criminals to justice,’ urged Councillor Beverley van Reenen.
The City of Cape Town is responsible for maintaining 245 000 streetlights in the metro. To combat theft and vandalism of streetlight infrastructure in hotspots, the City’s enforcement agencies are working tirelessly within their mandate.
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To maintain well-lit streets, residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity near the infrastructure. Single streetlight outages are attended to within 14 days, while faults affecting multiple streetlights are addressed within 48 hours, wherever possible.
The City has set up channels to report damage to municipal electrical infrastructure, including an anonymous tip-off hotline with a reward of R5000 for information leading to arrests. The hotline number is 0800 1100 77.
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Picture: City of Cape Town