Sabotage – it’s an act of treason

THE stealing of nine thick metal cables of the suspended water pipeline carrying the massive pipeline across the Umgeni River in Reservoir Hills took weeks to repair.

In the meantime there were water shortages in the whole area north of the Umgeni, from Parlock, through to Phoenix, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu, Virginia, La Lucia, Umhlanga, right up to the King Shaka Airport.

Clinics, hospitals, shopping malls, schools and every public facility were affected.

Recently thugs stole the crossbars supporting a huge electricity pylon, causing it to collapse in Lenasia. This plunged the whole area into darkness for four days.

Also in Gauteng they have resorted to stealing railway lines!

Eskom loses millions in copper cable theft every year. It also loses billions in stolen electricity.

We are amazed at the high levels of tolerance by the relevant authorities for blatant acts of sabotage carried out by those who plead poverty and have a hundred stories of their marginalisation and exclusion.

This, in their warped minds, gives them the right to steal, damage, destroy, vandalise, and make inoperable infrastructure critical to the normal operation of civilised society.

Notwithstanding these pathetic and outrageous excuses, the reality is that these thugs undermine the democratic functioning of our cities, towns, and country and are guilty of nothing less than sabotage and, consequently, of treason.

These acts are not carried out on the basis of ignorance, but out of sheer greed, based on an “I don’t give a damn” attitude.

Many operate in syndicates. The cherry on the top is the arrogant impunity with which these terrorist actions are carried out. The cost to municipalities and government is in the millions and perhaps billions.

Where does the money come from to repair, restore and protect these facilities? It comes from us, who are the ratepayers and taxpayers.

Therefore government must act now to declare these acts treasonous and punishable by a life sentence.

Only such a severe deterrent will reduce and, perhaps, eliminate such brazen cheek.

Given the shaky state of our economy, we cannot afford the luxury of pampering to the whims of these traitors of our democracy.

They need to be hit quickly and very hard. The country must not be held to ransom by traitorous scum!

This begs the question of imposing controls on the scrap metal merchants. It is they who provide the market for stolen metal. There just have to be creative ways of devising laws (and sanctions) for those who facilitate such theft.

Eskom has hiked the price of electricity and is planning “load shedding”, yet little is done to stop the theft of electricity.

The greater Durban area has more than 500 informal settlements and virtually each has illegal power connections.

The cost comes to R120 million a year, paid by ratepayers. Just how many such settlements stretch across South Africa and who pays for the theft?

Why do the authorities tolerate this criminal behaviour? In my suburb, just one settlement (there are 17!) has a forest of cables, stretched over trees and across Quarry Road West.

I have witnessed a few illegal connections made in broad daylight.

Metro Police and SAPS officers are trapping motorists and doing whatever else, yet there is no ending this blatant criminality.

Are there two sets of laws operating? There is no duality in our laws, just a selective application.

Surely what is good for the goose, must be good for the gander, or did I waste my time fighting through decades for a just society?

We have the laws and the law enforcers and a constitutional democracy.

I have cautioned previously that rampant criminality has the very real possibility of undermining and destroying South Africa’s democracy.

Civil society vigilance must not let up its watch.