KEY POINTS
- Pretoria East residents are facing frequent power outages and financial strain due to a surge in cable theft, forcing them to rely on costly generators.
- Businesses and households are suffering significant losses, with spoiled food, disrupted work, and compromised security systems adding to the crisis.
- Residents are calling for urgent action from authorities to address cable theft and restore reliable power supply to the area.
Residents in parts of Pretoria East are grappling with frequent power outages and mounting financial burdens due to a surge in cable theft.
The constant theft of essential infrastructure has left communities in the dark, forcing them to rely on generators while still paying for electricity they cannot use. This has sparked frustration and concern among residents, who are now calling for urgent action to address the crisis.
“We run our generators all the time, and we have to maintain and service them while paying electricity bills also,” said one resident, echoing the sentiments of many in the area. The financial strain is compounded by the need to replace spoiled food and repair damaged appliances, with businesses and households alike feeling the impact.
Businesses and Homes Suffer as Cable Theft Cripples Power Supply
Andrione, a restaurant owner in Alphen Park, highlighted the devastating effects of the power outages on his business. “We have fridges and freezers with a lot of stock, and the food consistently gets spoilt because of the power outages,” he said. The financial losses from spoiled stock are significant, and the situation is further exacerbated by the increased risk of crime during prolonged blackouts.
Residents like Van Der Merwe, who works from home, are also feeling the strain. “We had to empty our fridge because most of the items went bad,” she said. “My printers and converters have been standing still since Monday morning, making it impossible to work efficiently.” The outages have also disrupted security systems, leaving homes and businesses vulnerable. “Batteries for gates and alarm systems are out because they do not last long after a power outage,” Van Der Merwe added.
The surge in cable theft is part of a broader trend affecting South Africa, where infrastructure vandalism has become a growing concern.
According to recent reports, cable theft costs the South African economy billions of rand annually, with municipalities struggling to replace stolen infrastructure and maintain reliable services.
Residents are now urging local authorities and law enforcement to take decisive action to curb cable theft and restore stability to the area. “We need better security and harsher penalties for those involved in cable theft. This cannot continue,” said another frustrated resident.
