Power mess costs metro R218-million

THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is fighting a losing battle against vandalism and cable theft, with municipal staff complaining there was more damage to the city’s electricity infrastructure over the past year than ever before.

At least eight electricity substations were vandalised by cable thieves this month, each costing more than R50 000 to repair.

A report by the executive director of the electricity and energy department, Silby Mathew, revealed about 50 substations had been broken into since late last year.

The constant damage to substations and cable theft led to the death of a man and child over the past two weeks. John Rooi, 30, of Malabar Extension Six, was electrocuted last week when he tried to steal cables at Miltonia power substation. His charred remains comprised only bones and a piece of striped material.

Three-year-old Shawn Dube was also incinerated after he fell against a fence which had become electrified by dangling illegal wiring in Missionvale.

Yesterday, large parts of Motherwell’s Ward 57 as well as sections of Uitenhage and Despatch had no electricity, due to vandalism of three substations on Thursday night.

At an infrastructure and energy portfolio committee meeting yesterday, Mathew said the municipality had lost R218-million over the past nine months due to ageing infrastructure and electricity theft. - Rochelle de Kock