Thieves damage electricity pole outside Minister Lamola’s home

Cable thieves reportedly left the electricity pole stripped outside Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola’s house in Pretoria on Wednesday.

According to Times Live, the thieves’ actions caused a power outage in the area. However, by the afternoon, it had been resolved.

Lamola was not at home when the incident occurred. He was in Cape Town for the State of the Nation Address.

However, his family was.

LAMOLA’S FAMILY DECLARED SAFE

According to Lamola’s spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, the minister’s family was home during the cable theft. Nothing happened to them.

ALSO READ: JRA alarmed by increase in Joburg’s traffic signals theft, vandalism

“They are fine and are safe. Nothing happened to them because it was just cable theft,’’ the report quoted Phirir as saying.

ALARMING INCREASE IN CABLE THEFT

This comes after the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) expressed concern about the alarming increase in traffic signal theft and vandalism across the city, as well as the resulting economic impact.

ALSO READ: JRA Board finds CEO with dubious credentials culpable

The South African recently reported that the JRA has identified 531 (25%) of Johannesburg’s 2 028 signalised traffic intersections as having been vandalised by criminals using angle grinders to cut down traffic signal poles at a replacement cost of R28.1 million over the last four years.

LOAD SHEDDING AND ENABLING CABLE THEFT

According to JRA, load shedding has enabled the thieves to cut the traffic pole and steal copper wire at intersections without the risk of electrocution.

ALSO READ: Pothole damage? Here’s how to claim in Johannesburg

“The JRA is facing an enormous battle to save the City’s road traffic signals from rampant theft and vandalism. Criminal syndicates are spreading their illegal activities across the entire city stripping our traffic signals bare for any materials that can be resold at a fraction of the replacement cost, from the traffic pole signal, copper cables and electrical components, and other equipment like signal heads, UPS and controllers,” said JRA acting CEO Louis Nel.

Nel also stated that cable theft has a negative impact on the city’s economy by causing traffic congestion and unproductive, frustrated commuters, as well as an increase in traffic collisions.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY SINOTHANDO SIYOLO