The City of Tshwane's substation security has been called into question after yet another facility was vandalised, leaving parts of Centurion CBD without power.
This week’s incident of cable theft at the SSG substation in Centurion has ignited outrage among local residents and business owners.
Many have taken to social media to express their frustrations and concerns about the ongoing issue of vandalism and theft at the Tshwane's substations.
They expressed concern about recurring vandalism and theft at the City's substations and the lack of effective security measures in place.
The City of Tshwane has faced similar challenges in the past, including a brazen cable robbery at a substation in Mamelodi East, where a security guard was forcibly detained at gunpoint.
Residents are demanding a comprehensive plan to address this issue and prevent future incidents.
One of them suggested that the municipality install an alarm system at the substations to serve as a deterrent to the crime.
“Post the municipal police, sitting next to the road looking for bribes, to guard infrastructure,” the social media user said.
Many supported the call to beef up security by deploying the metro police officers at the facilities.
Pauline Leah II said: “Such buildings need very strong security. You cannot park it there and go. We have people who just eat whatever they see.”
MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, expressed concern about the increasing rate of vandalism committed at various substations in recent weeks.
She said the latest incident is a stark reminder of the challenges the city faces “as we aim to maintain reliable and uninterrupted power supply to communities”.
“The vandalism at the SSG Substation has caused significant inconvenience to our residents, disrupting daily activities and impacting local businesses,” she said.
Morodi said it is important for community members to play an active role in safeguarding public infrastructure by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious behaviour to the authorities.
“By working together, we can prevent further acts of vandalism and ensure that our infrastructure remains unharmed,” she said.
The city executive, she said, is taking robust measures to protect municipal infrastructure and to mitigate the risk of future incidents as part of the its 100-day action plan to ensure that enhanced security protocols and increased surveillance are implemented to deter criminal activities.
Pretoria News