By: Zanele Mfaba
Twitter: @mfaba_zanele
Email: Zanelemfaba1408@gmail.com
Residents of Lakeside Estates in the Vaal have been severely affected by cable and copper theft. The community is tired of this inconsiderate behavior by drug addicts who are known as nyaope boys in the area.
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| Image from Google |
Nyaope, which was discovered in 2006 is a mixture of low-grade heroin, cannabis products, antiretroviral drugs, and other materials added as bulking agents. It is a physically addictive mixture that gives in a sense of euphoria (excitement) and relaxation, but these effects soon wear off and another hit is required. This then leads the users to steal things to trade and get money for the nyaope.
Since 2020 this has been an ongoing problem that is getting worse, and residents have tried different lengths unfortunately there has been no luck. This is one crime that South Africans are no longer new to, cable and copper theft.
This has caused many problems for South Africans in terms of electricity supply, transport, traffic lights, and communication systems which are very important for South Africa’s economy.
South Africa’s economy is at a standstill because its revenues always have to replace the expensive infrastructure. The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) said cable theft costs South Africa’s economy from about R5 billion to R7 billion a year.
According to 360.globalspec.com, there are ways to prevent cable theft which are: Disguising cables and exposed copper, replacing typical cables with anti-theft copper wires and this has been tested worldwide. An anti-theft wire may be made of smaller tinned copper wires that are bunched together, with a ring of steel strands that surround the copper. This is proven to bring a lot of change in terms of cable and copper theft.
Lakeside Estates residents comment on their experience with cable and copper theft:
Mabontle Magqaza (22)
This has been happening for a very long time and it has now become even worse than before. This matter has been reported a lot but really nothing better has come out of it. Cable theft happens due to various reasons like easy accessibility and the high rate of unemployment. Cable theft leads to a lucrative business for criminals as they sell the stolen materials for cash. Life is a hassle now as this resulted in power outages, internet disruptions, and doing my schoolwork means I had to buy a power bank and always have to go charge it elsewhere.
Millicent Mahlobo (38)
Since 2020, meaning it's been 4 years since this has been occurring. The matter has been reported but sadly nothing serious was done to fix the cable theft in our neighborhood. There is not enough security and the police are not doing enough to put culprits behind bars. Life has been rough as we experience non-stop power cuts and other neighborhoods don't have electricity, we practically stay in the dark causing an increase in the crime rate.
Beauty Mokholo (49)
To my knowledge, this has been happening for more than 5 years but started affecting us as the years went by. We have reported the matter to the police and it hasn’t been attended to, instead, we were told that as a community we need to catch the thieves and call them. Knowing the community’s anger, we would face mob justice if that were to happen. I believe this keeps on happening because the police do not do anything about it.
The same electric cable is the one that supplies me with power from the transformer. I think this happens because of the unemployment we are facing as a country and now that there is load-shedding it gives the thieves more time to do this considering that the cables do not have power at that time. Life has led to a lot of adjustments now because we can’t use a lot of things like trains and when we try to get money from the ATMs there are a lot of network problems. I don’t want to have to go far to get my pension money.
Tshifularo Mashava, City Power CEO addresses the matter:
https://on.soundcloud.com/jr148
The neighborhood that faces cable and copper theft will usually feel more of its effects, so everyone who gets to witness is advised to report this crime by contacting Telkom’s crime hotline on 0800 124 000.
Every South African is responsible for ensuring a guarded place to live, so the crime only brings the opposite of that.
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