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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested Dawid Kruiper municipality to initiate an internal investigation into the theft of municipal infrastructure, particularly copper cables.

This comes after two municipal officials were implicated in an incident whereby they are alleged to have made use of a municipal vehicle to try sell copper cable to a scrap metal dealer. After the authorities were tipped off, the officials fled.

The DA has confirmed the incident with the manager of the municipal electrical unit, who also confirmed the suspension of both officials.

We welcome Dawid Kruiper’s firm response. For almost four years, the DA has been raising our concern regarding the debilitating theft of hundreds and thousands of rands worth of cables and municipal infrastructure in the Upington area. In some instances, theft could have been easily prevented if security officials had timeously acted on real-time reports of cables being stolen. In addition to a glaring lack of security patrols facilitating municipal theft, there were also instances of cable theft that pointed to the perpetrators having inside information.

While the DA previously called for disciplinary action to be taken against officials who failed to safeguard municipal assets, we will table an additional request for an internal investigation.

We need a full picture of the extent and range of theft of municipal infrastructure within Dawid Kruiper. This is critical so that the municipality can open additional criminal charges, where there is sufficient evidence of wrongdoing. It is also necessary to enable the municipality to put measures in place to prevent the further plundering of Dawid Kruiper.

The DA calls on residents to vote on 29 May to help rescue the Northern Cape from crime and lawlessness by, amongst other things, devolving specific policing management and governance functions to competent local and provincial government while maintaining a national police force.

Issued by Henk Opperman, Cllr - Dawid Kruiper Municipality