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The City of Cape Town’s electricity teams attended to more than 1 600 streetlight repairs in Mitchells Plain in four months. The majority of streetlight related faults in the area are because of vandalism and theft. City teams are on the ground attending to repairs as quickly as possible however, we urge residents to assist us by being our eyes and ears so that we end vandalism related streetlight faults in the metro. Read more below:

Today, 7 September 2023, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen, City officials and Ward Councillors visited Tafelsig, where repairs to streetlights was carried out. 

‘Between May and August this year, electricity teams received more than 3 298 streetlight service requests for Mitchells Plain, including Tafelsig, and our teams have thus far attended to more than 1 600 requests. Streetlights in Area South are severely impacted by ongoing vandalism and theft of infrastructure, and we are trying our level best to attend to repairs as quickly as possible. 

‘The teams attend to streetlight repairs within 14 days as per the service level agreements, however due to the increased theft and vandalism incidents in Mitchells Plain and the greater Area South region; we have accumulated a backlog in service requests. We are doing all we can to attend to the required repairs, however the rate at which theft and vandalism is happening in this area is putting strain on the City’s resources. This is simply unsustainable and we call on the community to continue their support as we try to protect our infrastructure.

‘This week, City Law Enforcement teams and the South African Police Service (SAPS) apprehended suspects in possession of more than 150 metres of overhead electricity cable in Mitchells Plain. Continuous acts of vandalism severely impact areas and we will continue to do our best to stop illegal actions in communities. 

Record-breaking 50 000 electricity service requests attended to in June 2023 alone

‘The record-breaking 50 000 service requests that our teams attended to shows that we have been working around the clock to ensure that we assist residents with their electricity related service requests as quickly as possible, despite the very challenging circumstances they face on a daily basis. We continue to work through backlogs and new service requests and we thank residents for their patience and for working with us,’ said Councillor van Reenen.

Help us protect our infrastructure and communities!

Community support plays a massive role in our fight against vandalism and we once again urge communities to report all incidents of vandalism and illegal connections. 

Report to us

• SMS: 31220

• Email: power@capetown.gov.za

Anonymous tip-offs welcomed

Reward of R5 000 if tip offs lead to arrests. 

Call: 0800 1100 77

Issued by The City of Cape Town