{"id":49440,"date":"2023-10-11T14:35:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T12:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/lights-out-for-otto-du-plessis-drive-in-milnerton-20231011\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T22:35:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T20:35:15","slug":"lights-out-for-otto-du-plessis-drive-in-milnerton-20231011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/lights-out-for-otto-du-plessis-drive-in-milnerton-20231011\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Lights out\u2019 for Otto du Plessis Drive in Milnerton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The rise in copper cable theft has become a significant concern in recent years, negatively affecting essential services and posing a threat to public safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Milnerton area was recently affected by cable theft after cables for the street lights along Otto du Plessis Drive were stolen. This happened between Lagoon Beach and Racecourse Road (on the lagoon side) and between Racecourse Road and Blouberg (on the Flamingo Vlei side).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Milnerton Central Residents Association (MCRA) says they received a call from the City\u2019s electricity department on 4 October. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRepresentatives from the MCRA and Sunset Beach then met with electricity officials the same day. The officials explained that there are extreme levels of theft of the cables for the street lights along Otto du Plessis drive. Due to this, large stretches of the street lights along Otto du Plessis are regularly off,\u201d the MCRA says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They (the MCRA) say this negatively affects road safety and general safety in the general surroundings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe City replaces these cables regularly, only to need to come back weeks and sometimes days later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residents, neighbourhood watches and security companies are requested to be extra vigilant when patrolling along Otto du Plessis and report any suspicious activities to 021 480 7700.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cResidents that can think of innovative technology solutions to this problem can contact the MCRA and we can facilitate the implementation of such solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Copperheads<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The City\u2019s Metal Theft Unit (MTU), also known as the Copperheads, arrested 184 suspects between July 2022 and June 2023, up from 161 during the same period in the previous year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unit also increased its hotspot patrols by 42%, year-on-year, recorded a 23% increase in notices issued to scrapyards and issued 3 253 fines for various by-law transgressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over a three-month period (April \u2013 June 2023), the unit confiscated 4 556,4 kilogrammes of stolen metal, and 405 metres of cable, compared to 537,5 kilogrammes (metal) and 238,5 metres (cable) during the corresponding period in the previous year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese confiscation statistics simply confirm the scale of the problem, and it is compounded by the near consistent higher stages of load-shedding which provides the perfect cover and opportunity for criminals. We\u2019ve nearly doubled our staff complement since 2019, from just 19 members to 35 currently, and while that has been a welcome boost, the task at hand is quite simply massive. The unit\u2019s efforts are supported by the City\u2019s other enforcement agencies, but we are not going to win this particular war on our own. We require more swift prosecutions and lengthier sentences to act as deterrents, but also a legislative shift that takes the shine off the scrap metal trade, and the related theft of metals and critical infrastructure,\u201d says the City\u2019s Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent months, the MTU has been notified of a few cases dating back to 2020 and 2021, that have been finalised, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n