A surge in cable theft is severely disrupting essential services within the Moqhaka Municipality, leaving residents and businesses without consistent access to electricity and placing further strain on already constrained municipal resources.
The situation has deteriorated in recent months, with repeated incidents involving the theft and vandalism of electrical infrastructure resulting in widespread power interruptions. Households have been subjected to prolonged outages, whilst businesses continue to incur significant financial losses due to operational disruptions. The lack of reliable electricity has also heightened safety concerns, particularly in areas left unlit for extended periods.
In Ward 3, encompassing Môrewag, Noordhoek and Wespark, residents are reportedly without electricity on an almost daily basis. Electrical distribution boxes in these areas have been extensively vandalised or, in some cases, completely removed, compounding the difficulty of restoring supply. The capacity of local law enforcement to respond effectively has been hindered by a shortage of transport resources, limiting patrols and the safeguarding of critical infrastructure. In response, local councillors have collaborated with the Kroonstad Neighbourhood Watch and engaged private security companies to assist with patrol efforts in the most affected areas.
The consequences of the ongoing theft extend beyond immediate service disruptions. Continued damage to municipal infrastructure is placing additional pressure on limited public finances, whilst residents and businesses are forced to bear the rising costs associated with repairs, alternative energy arrangements and lost productivity.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Moqhaka has formally communicated its concerns to the municipality and relevant law enforcement authorities, urging the implementation of urgent and coordinated measures to address the crisis. Among its recommendations are the strengthening of infrastructure security, improved coordination to combat organised criminal activity, and the introduction of rapid response mechanisms to expedite repairs. Further calls have been made for enhanced community involvement in reporting suspicious activity and supporting preventative initiatives.
With essential services increasingly compromised, there is growing pressure on the authorities to take decisive and sustained action to safeguard critical infrastructure and restore stability across the municipality.
