{"id":301331,"date":"2026-06-09T10:09:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T08:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/?p=301331"},"modified":"2026-06-09T10:11:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T08:11:31","slug":"ten-pillar-boxes-torched-in-one-week-leaving-kimberley-residents-in-the-dark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/ten-pillar-boxes-torched-in-one-week-leaving-kimberley-residents-in-the-dark\/","title":{"rendered":"Ten pillar boxes torched in one week, leaving Kimberley residents in the dark"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Sol Plaatje Municipality is calling for heightened community vigilance as Kimberley faces increasing arson attacks on electrical pillar boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two more incidents occurred in Florianville, and one in De Beers, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, 9 June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Shockingly, between last Tuesday and early this morning, a total of 10 arson attacks on pillar boxes were carried out between midnight and 04:00,&#8221; said Thabo Mothibi of the Communications Unit of the Sol Plaatje Municipality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;In what appeared to be a coordinated series of arson attacks last Tuesday and Wednesday, a total of 7 pillar boxes were set alight for the theft of copper cable. Due to one of the incidents, residents from a few streets in Beaconsfield were without power for over 48 hours,&#8221; said Mothibi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-videopress\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\" style=\"max-width:446.979px;margin:auto\">\n<iframe title=\"VideoPress Video Player\" aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='421' height='750' src='https:\/\/videopress.com\/embed\/iJgHHUeJ?cover=1&amp;preloadContent=metadata&amp;useAverageColor=1&amp;hd=0' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen data-resize-to-parent=\"true\" allow='clipboard-write'><\/iframe><script src='https:\/\/v0.wordpress.com\/js\/next\/videopress-iframe.js?m=1770107250'><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-public-safety-under-threat\">Public safety under threat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The impact of this devastating trend &#8211; a series of attacks on critical municipal electrical infrastructure &#8211; calls for community outrage, said Mothibi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Public safety and nearby property are at risk. Burnt boxes remain live. Stay clear of them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repairs will take time and will cost the ratepayers. The replacement costs are substantial.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Living without power in winter is beyond an inconvenience. It is perilous, especially for those who are sick and dependent on it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-report-suspicious-activity\">Report suspicious activity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Please cooperate and report suspicious activity immediately to the South African Police Service on 10111.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Tampering with electrical infrastructure is a criminal offence. Offenders will be prosecuted. We have had successful convictions resulting in 15-year sentences in our local courts,&#8221; Mothibi concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ALSO READ: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/kimberley-faces-r6-million-loss-due-to-ongoing-electrical-vandalism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kimberley faces R6 million loss due to ongoing electrical vandalism<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Sol Plaatje Municipality in Kimberley calls for vigilance after wave of arson attacks on pillar boxes which leave residents in the 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