In response to the ongoing challenges facing critical water and electricity infrastructure in Gauteng, Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced plans to allocate resources for enhanced protection measures.
The Joburg CBD has recently faced prolonged power outages following an underground fire along the M1 highway, which was triggered by cable theft in underground tunnels. As residents grapple with the consequences of these disruptions, Lesufi emphasized the importance of safeguarding infrastructure and outlined efforts to address the issue.
City Power has appealed to law enforcement for increased involvement in combating cable theft, which imposes significant financial burdens on the city, amounting to around R160 million annually in repair costs alone. Lesufi assured the public that steps are being taken to tackle the crisis head-on, with a focus on deploying resources to prevent further incidents of theft.
Meanwhile, City Power reported that electricity has been restored to 85 per cent of affected customers, marking progress in resolving the widespread power outage.
