The City urges members of the public to help us bring an end to illegal connections and electricity infrastructure vandalism by reporting to the City and the South African Police Service (SAPS). Not only is it a waste of money to spend on fixing vandalised infrastructure, but it can also lead to prolonged area power outages. With the intensification of load-shedding, vandalism risks have increased. Over recent months, the City ramped up its efforts to protect infrastructure, removed illegal connections across the metro and continues to monitor all hotspot areas. Currently, deployments of safety and security teams have increased to help guard critical infrastructure especially during the high stages of Eskom load-shedding.

In August 2022, the City’s Electricity Generation and Distribution Department carried out an operation to remove multiple illegal connections in hotspot areas within the Siqalo informal settlement and surrounding areas. Initiatives are ongoing. The City is monitoring all hotspot areas across the metro and the electricity teams will continue to remove illegal connections in communities.

‘Illegal connections and infrastructure vandalism remain a challenge, as it often results in constant electricity outages in some areas and we need the support of community members to combat this scourge. During this operation, our teams confiscated a truckload of electricity cable used for illegal connections.

‘Our teams have attended to hundreds of faults in recent months and disconnect illegal connections to City infrastructure on a regular basis. When the City disconnects illegal connections, criminals often reconnect and vandalise infrastructure further within hours, leaving many homes without electricity for extended periods. Our teams will monitor all hotspots and we urge residents to help us bring criminals to book by reporting illegal electricity connections to the SAPS and the City.

‘We have embarked on enhanced initiatives and approximately R40 million has been earmarked to help curb and prevent vandalism of critical energy infrastructure in communities. This is part of the approved 2022/23 Budget, which came into effect from July 2022. The R40 million injection is focusing on securing critical infrastructure in all communities, boosting security patrols in hotspot areas and permanent security deployments to strategic energy infrastructure. In addition, the City will embark on a vandalism awareness and education drive in communities so that residents have a greater understanding of the impact and cost of vandalism in their areas.

‘We encourage residents to assist us and we are offering a reward to anyone who provides information that leads to an 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,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen.

Report damage to municipal electrical infrastructure:

SMS: 31220

Email: power@capetown.gov.za

Anonymous tip-offs welcomed:

Residents can give anonymous tip offs if they are aware of illegal activity, such as illegal connections or unlawful occupations, that are taking place; that has happened or is still to happen. Please call 112 from a cell phone (toll free) and 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 for emergencies

Source: City Of Cape Town