Mayor concerned about theft of electrical equipment

Date: 26 September 2003 By: 

The biggest problem, he said, is experienced in Ward 35 in villages like Makushu, Tshituni, Mudimeli and Maangani. The cost of stolen electrical equipment already exceeds R1 million.

Cllr Nkuzana said that it is a pity that community members choose to protect these criminals, rather than to report them to the authorities like the SAPS. Ultimately, he said, it is the poor people that will suffer as a result of these barbaric acts of vandals. Cllr Nkuzana urged members of the community to protect their infrastructure and look after it themselves, as it is impossible for Council to post a security official or police officer at each and every electrical pole. In this regard, he urged community members to make use of their Community Policing Forum.

Cllr Nkuzana added, however, that security guards were deployed at several vulnerable hotspots within the municipality. He said the theft of electrical equipment seems to be well orchestrated by an organized syndicate. These people appear to be well trained and have the necessary resources and expertise. Cllr. Nkuzana said that Council is to reward eyewitnesses whose information leads to the arrest of the culprits. In addition, Council has spoken to the SAPS to help them bring the perpetrators to book.

"I must clearly indicate that these acts of vandalism are seriously impacting negatively on our programme for service delivery," Cllr. Nkuzana said.

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