Nelson Mandela Bay Residents Urged To Report Vandalism After Substation Collapse

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality on Wednesday urged community members to report and prevent the vandalism of electricity infrastructure after a substation in Khayelitsha, Kariega, collapsed due to vandalism.

City's Member of the Mayoral Committee for Electricity and Energy Ziyanda Mnqokoyi explained that the incident, which occurred last week, caused power outages for many households. Mnqokoyi added that the substation is being repaired, and it will take about two weeks to fix the damage.

"We have been conducting oversight visits throughout last week in the affected substation building, which has unfortunately collapsed due to vandalism, resulting in a loss of power supply, and we can report that work has started," Mnqokoyi said, SA News reported.

She added, "However, to restore power, a comprehensive scope of work is required, including the building of the distribution substation, procurement and installation of switchgear, and testing and commissioning."

Mnqokoyi explained that, due to the complexity of the work, it would usually take at least six months to complete such repairs. However, the team is working hard to finish the project by Jan. 31.

She condemned the vandalism and urged residents to stop damaging infrastructure, as it disrupts services. Mnqokoyi also called on anyone with information about the incident to report it to the municipality's law enforcement or the South African Police Service to help catch those responsible.

In South Africa, some of the most common forms of vandalism involve the destruction of electricity infrastructure, which can lead to power outages and disruptions in essential services. Other frequent targets include public transportation systems, schools, and government buildings.

The government and local authorities typically condemn these acts, highlighting their negative effects on the economy and community well-being. Efforts to combat vandalism include increasing law enforcement presence, using technology like surveillance cameras, and urging the public to report incidents to prevent further damage.

Last year, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) announced that 31 out of 40 rail routes are now operational after extensive theft and vandalism severely damaged the country's rail network during the COVID-19 lockdown, according to Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Hishaam Emeran.