EC military vets ready for izinyoka
MILITARY veterans may be drafted to help combat electricity theft in the Eastern Cape.
With izinyoka costing municipalities in the province at least R155-million each year, military veteran and political activist Chwayita Kalimashe claims unemployed veterans could help slash these costs.
Late last year, Buffalo Municipality reported that an R8-million electrification budget was insufficient to reach all of its residents, due to cables being stolen and vandalised.
Recently the King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality recruited 24-hour security guards to fight cable theft and combat illegal electrifications.
The Daily Dispatch reported on a King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) document that highlighted more than R8.8-million had been spent replacing stolen cables and upgrading outdated electricity infrastructure in and around Mthatha between July and September alone.
KSD municipal spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said cable thieves were crippling municipalities.
“We are working around the clock to minimise cable theft, but they are continuously setting us back. We are [having] to spend money replacing cables and therefore they are hindering development in our communities.”
Mampoza said although stolen cables were replaced within days, it did not take long for them to be stolen again.
He said it put a financial strain on the cashstrapped municipality.
Security guards had been placed at various cable theft hotspots to staff these areas on a 24hour basis.
“With regards to the use of unemployed military veterans, it is up to the council to address that, but I do not see how it can be opposed.”
Kalimashe said there were a high number of unemployed veterans, most of which were neglected by society.
“By not engaging with the former service men, this deprived the veterans who had served our society the sense of belonging and dignity.
“The use of veterans could a give them a sense of purpose and put an end to cable theft because they are highly skilled,” she said.