ALBERTON- on the evening of 26 January thieves broke the electricity boxes in multiple streets in Brackenhurst and Brackendowns.
Mr. Rudi Pretorius reported the incident after hearing an extremely loud crash sounding like an explosion. He says the SAPS and FOX security responded swiftly and several policeman and security were dispatched.
Electrical boxes were forced open and wires stolen in Fisher, Geranuim, Lil Bester, Gesiggie, Hermina and Tugela streets.
The electricity was restored and wires replaced the next morning. However, Mr Pretorius is very upset about the manner in which the repairs were done. The boxes still do not lock and the metal plate protecting the wires is loose. After Mr Pretorius questioned the EMM workers, they said it was only a temporary measure as the boxes would be replaced completely.
In the interim the boxes are open for anyone to vandalise and leave families in the dark and in danger.
In a separate incident much later that night, four young men broke the electricity box in Hardekool Street, Brackendowns, and threw pieces of cement at the windows of 1 Hardekool Street.
The owner, Mr Shaer has video footage of the incident, which will be used in the investigation. The footage shows four white young men tampering with the box, throwing the objects and speeding off in a silver Hyundai Getz.
Response from EMM spokeperson reads as follows: “The City’s Energy department uses several types of enclosures for electrical equipment. However some of the older equipment is easily accessed by unauthorised persons. A long-term process of replacing tampered or vandalised boxes with protective structures with electronic locking mechanism is currently under way in high risk areas.This process will help reduce the frequent vandalism, cable theft and tampering of electric boxes by unauthorised persons.”
Meanwhile, residents feel vulnerable and at the mercy of thieves. They demand to know when the long-term process will be implemented and completed.
