Lydia Mathobela-Nhlapo
Twenty-two people have been arrested in the past week in connection with theft and vandalism as City Power intensifies the fight against the scourge of cable theft and vandalism. On Monday, 20 May 2024, 11 Lesotho nationals were apprehended along Carr Street, near the M1 tunnels where fire broke out earlier this month, causing a prolonged outage. That flame, which gutted the network infrastructure, was sparked by acts of tampering.
A group of men aged between 22 and 33 were caught in possession of a single core bundle cable. The 11 suspects from Lesotho were charged with tampering with essential infrastructure and appeared in court on Tuesday.
On 19 May 2024, a 21-year-old man was arrested in Orlando East, Soweto, after he was caught in possession of 3-metre-long underground cable. Four more people were nabbed on 15 May 2024 in Turffontein, Wilgeheuwel and Alexandra, respectively. Two were found digging out underground cable in Alexandra and two others in Turffontein and Wilgeheuwel were found in possession of cable and busbars including cutting tools.
On 13 May 2024, a Zimbabwean was handcuffed in La Rochelle after he was caught while busy digging out cable. Four other suspects were arrested in Booysens on 11 May 2024 for tampering and possession of unlicensed firearms. Another man from Lesotho was arrested on that day in Devland after being caught in the process of digging out cable.
“These arrests are testament to the effectiveness of the utility’s reinforced internal controls that have been put in place, coupled with collaboration with communities and law enforcement agencies.
“The entity’s efforts and determination in the fight against cable theft and vandalism of the electricity equipment also demonstrate how much more can be achieved when communities join forces with City Power and law enforcement authorities in the fight against a problem that often leaves customers without power supply for prolonged periods,” said City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava.
She also applauded the SAPS for intervening after writing to the National Police Commissioner, in the wake of the M1 fire incident. “We commend the South African Police Services for coming to the party after making an impassioned plea to the National Police Commissioner, to intervene by means of providing additional resources to help guard our infrastructure, which is essential for the functioning of the City’s and by extension, the country’s economy.”
In another development, City Power has called on Johannesburg residents to reduce electricity consumption to alleviate strain on the system. The City’s power utility is closely monitoring consumption patterns across its supply areas and is currently facing a considerable strain on the system due to the recent drop in temperatures.
“We have already started recording a sharp increase in electricity demand, this always exerts unbearable pressure on the network and resources thereof,” said City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena.
“During peak hours in the morning from 04h00 to 10h00 and from 16h00 to 22h00, certain areas have been recorded and reached concerning usage levels that threaten to overload the electricity equipment,” said Mangena.
To avoid a potential network collapse, City Power is appealing to residents across the City, especially high-density areas to lower their consumption.
These areas include:
• Alexandra
• Freedom Park
• Hospital Hill
• Kliptown
• Klipfontein
• Lawley
• Matholesville
• Mayibuye
• Mountain View
• Naturena
• Pennyville
• Pimville Zone 9
• Prescast
• Princess
• Slovo
• Thembelihle
• Tshepisong
• Vlakfontein
The city’s energy supplier has also warned customers that if the strain on the system continues, it will have to implement load reduction in these areas, and more.
“Should customers not heed the call, City Power will be left with no choice but to implement load reduction in these areas and more others,” said Mangena.
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