The daily theft and vandalism of electrical cables in Ocean View is a “safety risk” to residents who are left vulnerable in the dark.
Mansoer Ismail, chair of the Ocean View Community Policing Forum (CPF), says theft and vandalism of electrical boxes and cables are reported daily.
“The theft of cables is a headache right now. People steal street cables, fuses and breakers but don’t stop there. They also steal electrical boxes from houses which means people are left in the dark.
“When residents think it is load shedding then it is actually cable theft.”.
According to Ismail, vandalism occurs in the early hours of the morning.
“The theft usually happens between 22:00 and midnight or between midnight and 02:00.
“It affects us all. A theft is reported every day and when the lights are out it means alarms are switched off and break-ins increase.
“More people are being robbed in the dark and the electricity at homes is out for days.”
The CPF encourages residents to report any case of theft and vandalism.
“At the end of the day, people see it happening and don’t report until it happens to them and then they want to complain.”
Terence Daniels, CPF deputy chair, says vandalism also disrupts the street lights. “Such acts not only disrupt the normal functioning of street lights but also pose a safety risk to the community. It’s important for everyone to come together and take action to address this issue.
“Reporting any suspicious activities or incidents is crucial in identifying and apprehending the individuals responsible for the vandalism.”
Daniels adds that community safety is a collective effort.
“During load shedding times, when street lights are the most vulnerable, it becomes even more important to stay vigilant and report any incidents promptly.
“This will enable the authorities to prioritise repairs and maintenance, ensuring that the streets remain well-lit and safe for residents.”
Meanwhile, Ward 61 councillor Simon Liell-Cock says the theft of infrastructure is an ongoing issue. “Last week they stole over a kilometre of cables.
“They steal from the street lights and heaven knows what for. I imagine the copper wire is taken to scrapyard dealers and sold for a fraction of the value.
“The theft of infrastructure is a huge problem and the consequence thereof is the risk of crime and the safety of the community.”
Liell-Cock adds that most theft and vandalism occur during load shedding.
“Load shedding is the problem, so we need more patrols and we need the community to take care of their infrastructure.
“Government must make copper a precious metal so that you can’t carry it without a permit and that is the only way we can tackle the problem.”
