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Mayor Pappas calls for swift action against copper cable thieves
Mayor Pappas urged immediate action against copper cable thieves, stating that justice could come later.
The mayor voiced frustration over the crime wave, leaving communities grappling with power outages and safety concerns.
“Thieves who target our electricity infrastructure must be dealt with on site,” said Mayor Pappas, adding that the persistent theft of copper cables has reached alarming levels. “We will worry about justice later.
Thieves who steal copper electricity cables must be dealt with on site. We will worry about justice later.
We are tired of thieves terrorising our communities. Where are the provincial and national authorities?
— Christopher Pappas (@MayorPappas) February 21, 2025
The theft of copper cables has become a serious issue in uMngeni Municipality, with power outages becoming more frequent and affecting both homes and businesses.
Copper Cable thefts create safety hazards
The thefts are not only disruptive but also dangerous, as they often result in exposed wires that pose a significant risk to public safety.
The mayor’s post highlights the urgent need for both local and national authorities to take action.
“We are tired of thieves terrorising our communities. Where are the provincial and national authorities?” Mayor Pappas asked, emphasising that the situation has become untenable.
While the mayor’s call for immediate action has garnered support from frustrated locals in the comment section.
Someone also commented on his post, agreeing with the verdict he suggested, mentioning power failures caused by infrastructure vandalism, which has become a regular issue, disrupting daily life and threatening safety.
She went on to say that the situation is escalating and immediate action is needed, as the authorities seem to be ignoring the crisis.
I second that!
In my area, not a weak goes by without power failure due infrastructure vandalism.
We’ve even resorted to request the municipality to do a full scale investigation to the power failure phenomenon. We are gatvol!— 🇿🇦 Zandi Thabethe 🇵🇸 (@zandy_thabethe) February 22, 2025
Critics warn of unintended consequences, yet many in the community remain focused on restoring safety and protecting services.
There is a growing sense of frustration, especially in light of the authorities’ apparent failure to take decisive action on the matter.
Some have questioned the motivations behind the delay in addressing this critical issue.
The question at the end is the reason for this statement!! The authorities being the enemies of the communities by not acting on it immediately – why and what’s in it for them?
— snertleser (@Amanda01241993) February 22, 2025
What steps are authorities taking to address the root causes of copper cable theft in the area?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com
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