The City of Cape Town is investing R40-million to curb and prevent vandalism of electricity infrastructure in the province.
The funds were set aside as part of the city's approved 2022/23 budget.
In a media release on Monday, the City’s Energy MMC Beverley van Reenen said the funds would focus on securing critical infrastructure and further boosting security patrols in hotspot areas, as well as providing permanent security deployments to strategic energy infrastructure.
“Electricity infrastructure vandalism remains high in areas across the city, affecting residents the most. The city calls on communities to stand with us so that we protect community infrastructure,” she noted.
“Damage to streetlights and to kiosks is among the most affected. These continuous illegal acts are plaguing our communities and, together with residents, we are determined to bring an end to infrastructure vandalism,” she added.
The city will also embark on a vandalism awareness and education drive within its communities.
“The drive is to ensure that residents have a greater understanding of the impact and cost of vandalism in their areas. We call on our communities to stand by us and to work with us to help protect community infrastructure," Van Reenen said.