Electricity cables were stolen on Sunday between Soshanguve and Rietgat substations leaving Block P, R, Y, T, V, SS, KK and Buffer Zone in Soshanguve without power supply.
Members of the community said they did not mind electricity being cut off once in a while by that this has become a problem because the electricity turns off every week now and this courses a lot of predicaments.
Residents said now that the cables are stolen, they are living in fear of crime because it is during the absence of electricity that cars are stolen, people are getting mugged and house robberies increase.
“We are no longer safe because we always think of what is going to happen next, we wake up without electricity and sometimes go to sleep with darkness. This is not fair to all of the affected residents of Soshanguve,” said Lebogang Maleka, an affected resident.
The businesses are also negatively affected, “I have my own business and I am a fashion designer. Without electricity there is no way I can be able to sew. My customers are complaining because I tell them one story every week, they think that I don’t want to complete their clothes so I come with excuses every day. This is making my business unstable because I lose customers and without them my business will close,” said Mittah Baloyi, who runs a business in the area.
Darryl Moss, MMC for Service Infrastructure in the City of Tshwane said the community needs to be on the lookout for cable theft and report perpetrators.
“The city apologizes for the inconvenience caused and wishes to urge members of the community to report any suspicious persons fiddling with the electricity infrastructure to the police station,” Mr Moss said.
Email Gontse at: gontsethelma385@gmail.com
