Cable Theft in Malamulele on the Rise

Cable Theft in Malamulele on the Rise, Leaving Community in the Dark
By Terries Twananani Hlongwani
MALAMULELE – Residents of Malamulele are raising concerns over the increasing incidents of cable theft, with several communities experiencing repeated power outages that have disrupted daily life.
Areas such as Merwe, Xigalo, and surrounding sections of Malamulele have reportedly been affected by recurring electricity interruptions linked to the theft of electrical cables. The outages have left households, businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities struggling to operate.
Residents say the thefts often occur during the night, with criminals targeting electrical infrastructure before disappearing with valuable copper cables. The damage caused by these crimes leaves communities without electricity for hours or even days while repair teams work to restore power.
Local business owners say the power cuts have affected their operations, resulting in financial losses and disruptions to services. Learners have also struggled to study in the evenings, while families are forced to cope without essential electrical services.
Community members are calling for increased security patrols around electricity infrastructure, stronger action against cable thieves, and closer cooperation between residents and law enforcement agencies. They believe that reporting suspicious activities and protecting public infrastructure can help reduce the problem.
Community leaders have urged residents to remain vigilant and report anyone seen tampering with electrical equipment. They say cable theft affects not only electricity supply but also slows down service delivery and increases the cost of repairing damaged infrastructure.
As incidents continue to affect areas including Merwe and Xigalo, residents hope that urgent measures will be introduced to curb cable theft and ensure a reliable electricity supply for the community.