Gone in three weekends — thieves lift R250,000 in Nelson Mandela Bay copper cables

11 Sep 2024

Over the past three weekends, thieves have stolen copper cabling valued at R250,000 from a Nelson Mandela Bay Metro warehouse with inadequate security.

Copper cables worth about R250,000 have been stolen from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s cable warehouse over the past three weekends.

“The theft of essential cables from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s warehouse in Gqeberha has reached crisis proportions,” said councillor Ondela Kepe, the Democratic Alliance’s spokesperson on electricity and energy.

He said the situation had continued for more than a year and that the security at the site was vastly inadequate.

“I have written to the acting city manager to request a swift and effective inter-directorate response, as this crisis is potentially impacting the safety and security of the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay as well as the municipality’s finances,” Kepe said.

“The repeated theft at the warehouse is not just a criminal act, but a clear example of leadership failure in Nelson Mandela Bay. The metro’s ability to maintain critical infrastructure is being undermined, leaving parts of our city at risk of falling into darkness. Criminality thrives in darkness, and this places the safety of residents at risk.”

Read more: High-ranking cops sent to Nelson Mandela Bay as bloodbath continues

Kepe said three incident reports were filed regarding the theft of 2,132 metres of cable, which cost the city R250,601.02.

On 27 August, 159m of cable valued at R49,046.35 was stolen; on 2 September 1,086m of cable valued at R97,520 was stolen; and on 9 September, 887m of cable valued at R104,034.67 was stolen.

Weak security

“Thieves, emboldened by weak security measures, have targeted this site with alarming regularity, exposing municipal employees and citizens to danger and uncertainty. Yet, what has been the response from the current coalition leadership? Silence,” he said.

In a letter to acting city manager Mandla George, Kepe suggested that a stronger brick wall be constructed around the warehouse.

He also said reinstalling an electric fence and CCTV cameras to ensure proper surveillance and deterrence would help. Kepe further suggested that security guards be appointed to patrol the warehouse 24 hours a day.

In his letter, Kepe said that in addition to these losses, there had been alarming reports of daylight robberies at gunpoint, further endangering municipal employees.

“It is disheartening to note that despite these serious incidents, there has been little to no urgency from the political and administrative leadership to address this ongoing crisis. The lack of an inter-directorate plan to permanently secure the warehouse and prevent further losses is a failure that needs immediate rectification,” Kepe said.

Read more: Heroes rally to save patients after cable thieves plunge Eastern Cape hospital into darkness for five days

The municipality did not respond to Daily Maverick’s questions about the thefts.

Arrest

Last week, the municipality said it had arrested its own second-hand goods inspector for stealing copper cables from the evidence storage.

According to the municipality, the official was caught as he was allegedly about to steal copper cables at a municipal storage facility at the Harrower Road depot in Gqeberha. Exhibits and evidence in infrastructure-related cases such as vandalism and theft were kept at the facility.

Read more: Nelson Mandela Bay scrap metal inspector bust for selling confiscated goods

“Upon receiving the tip-off, our security team followed the suspect, a second-hand goods inspector responsible for working closely with SAPS in policing scrap metal dealers for compliance and safeguarding the evidence for ongoing criminal cases,” the municipality said in a statement. DM

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Weak security

Arrest