DA welcomes steps taken by the City to reduce power outages

by Cllr. Khathutshelo Rasilingwane — DA Deputy Chief Whip in Ekurhuleni

Date: 14 July 2022

Release: Immediate

Type: Media statement

The Democratic Alliance in Ekurhuleni welcomes the recent announcement by the MMC for Water, Energy and Sanitation, Cllr Senzi Sibeko on measures being taken by the City to beef up security around electricity supply infrastructure.

The City has introduced a City-wide security effort to mitigate the issue of cable theft and the vandalism of electricity infrastructure. This initiative will complement the work that is already being done by the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department to secure power supply infrastructure in electricity insecure areas of the City.

This counter — measure will see the addition of a joint co-operative effort between private security companies and the use of technology being utilised to secure electricity infrastructure in targeted areas around the Metro.

Over the last few weeks there has been a rapid increase in cable theft and infrastructural sabotage. In some cases vandals have cut down streetlight poles and left them on the ground without stripping it of its materials.

Acts of vandalism and theft are rife during scheduled loadshedding, leading to multiple unplanned power outages. The DA welcomes the steps being taken to ensure energy security and the protection of energy infrastructure across the City.

We would also like to encourage residents to band together with the City and local armed forces to protect our electricity infrastructure.

We can no longer sit back and allow criminals to leave our communities stranded in the dark.

Cllr. Khathutshelo Rasilingwane

DA Deputy Chief Whip in Ekurhuleni

072 666 1706