Drones to curb dumping, arson attacks on Mthatha’s infrastructure

King Sabata Dalindyebo municipal authorities have resolved to use drones to fight illegal dumping in Mthatha and stop arsonists from destroying electricity infrastructure, including kiosks, transformers and mini substations.

The municipality also wants to rope in intelligence personnel from the SA National Defence Force to assist in tracking down infrastructure vandals.

These were among the resolutions taken after deliberations on the final day of the municipality’s three-day strategic planning session in the Eastern Cape town yesterday.

The gathering was aimed at devising new strategies to improve service delivery by the municipality.

Presenting resolutions from one of the commissions, KSD’s environmental quality management and amenities general manager, Yamkela Zitwana, said it had been resolved that drones would be procured to fight illegal dumping and identify some of the hotspots.

Acting public safety director Noluthando Soqinase said the drones would also be used to police against arsonists.

“[Electricity] kiosks are being burned every day.

“We have resolved that kiosks should be patrolled every day with assistance from private security companies and also our law enforcement unit at KSD.

“Fortunately, we have already sat down with some of them here in town.

“We believe we can also involve intelligence from defence to fight this.”

The municipality, which has incurred the wrath of residents and businesses for failing to clean up Mthatha, also announced it was planning to replace black refuse bags with 240l wheelie bins. Zitwana said this was because KSD was spending a lot of money on refuse bags, whereas mobile bins could be used for years.

KSD mayor Nyaniso Nelani said on the sidelines of the event that the drones were a necessity as the destruction of infrastructure was a huge challenge.

“Today [yesterday] we had a man who was arrested while trying to strip off copper materials from one of kiosks that were burned,” he said.

“We have one drone already from our department of human settlements.

“I doubt the people who are behind this are people who don’t know anything about electricity. They use petrol to set these kiosks on fire.”

On replacing the refuse bags, he said the municipality was spending more than R2m a year to buy about two-million bags.

“Even if the refuse removal truck does not come, you can still keep the bin in your yard.”

Mthatha Ratepayers and Residents’ Association spokesperson Madyibi Ngxekana said the municipality would need to gazette a bylaw allowing it to fly drones over town.

“It could be a long process and buying drones could be very costly.

“What they should be focusing on is to conscientise people about the importance of keeping a clean environment.

“Every street should have several waste bins and uniformed personnel monitoring the streets against illegal dumping.”

Ngxekana said municipal workers used to clean at night but that was stopped about six years ago.