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The Rustenburg Local Municipality is grappling with a surge in criminal activities centered around the vandalism and theft of crucial electrical infrastructure in Rustenburg and its neighboring areas. The municipality is urging communities to actively participate in curbing the rising incidents of infrastructure vandalism and illegal connections within their respective areas.
Various criminal acts have been identified by the municipality, including the theft of transformers, vandalism of minisubs resulting in damaged transformers, vandalism of substations, theft of cable and vandalism of traffic lights, theft and vandalism of streetlights, theft of electrical cables and house connections, theft of substation fencing, vandalism and theft of electrical equipment inside minisubs and substations, illegal electricity connections, tampering and bypassing of electrical meters, and tampering and damaging of electricity supply meter boxes.
These nefarious activities not only compromise the security of electricity supply but also pose risks to public safety. The stolen and vandalized equipment lead to prolonged electricity outages, significantly impacting the restoration times. Moreover, tampering with electrical installations and engaging in illegal electricity connections hinder the municipality’s ability to accurately bill and collect revenue, resulting in inadequate financial recovery and reduced funds for essential maintenance of the electricity network. Illegal connections also contribute to network overloads, prolonging the duration households and businesses are left without electricity.
Vandalized streetlights have plunged Rustenburg into darkness at night, jeopardizing the safety and security of residents. Similarly, vandalized traffic lights and cable theft have exacerbated traffic congestions and accidents, particularly at busy intersections.
In response to this escalating issue, the municipality is calling on all community members to actively participate in curbing this scourge. Residents are urged to remain vigilant, reporting any suspicious activities around municipal electrical infrastructure. The municipality has established a dedicated reporting hotline at (014) 590 3221 / 3304. Additionally, citizens can contact Community Policing Forums and the South African Police Services (SAPS) at (014) 590 4115 / 4116 / 4117 or the emergency number 10111 to report any observed criminal activities.
By fostering a collective sense of responsibility and awareness, the Rustenburg community can contribute significantly to safeguarding essential infrastructure and ensuring the uninterrupted and safe provision of electricity services.
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