An arson attack on an electrical distribution pillar in Homestead, Kimberley, has caused a power outage affecting an entire street and damage estimated at close to R30 000.
“Vandals carried out a deliberate arson attack on the municipality’s electrical infrastructure when they set alight a distribution pillar in Harmse Street, Homestead, in the early hours of this morning,” said Thabo Mothibi, spokesperson for Sol Plaatje Municipality, on Thursday 20 November.
Mothibi said the damage, including labour, materials, transport and loss of revenue, is estimated at between R20 000 and R30 000, possibly more.
The incident follows six acts of vandalism and theft over the past weekend. The vandalism of a mini-substation in Bizzet Street, Roodepan, also caused an outage from late Sunday into the early hours of Monday.
By the end of the current financial year in June 2025, the municipality will have suffered losses exceeding R6 million due to theft and vandalism of electrical infrastructure, Mothibi said.
Restoration of power supply takes longer when theft and vandalism occur, and the municipality is under strain as it must divert funds intended for new infrastructure towards repairing and replacing stolen and vandalised assets.
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Over the weekend, thieves stole a 25-metre service cable in 17th Street, Homelite Extension, in one of the incidents reported to the municipality’s Electrical Department.
In what appears to be a coordinated attack on Kimberley’s electrical assets, further incidents occurred within the same area. A meter kiosk was vandalised and its breaker and wires stolen in Lekhela Street, Galeshewe, whilst another meter kiosk was vandalised in Methodist Street and a cable stolen from a pole in Sebenya Street.
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