- DA concerned about rampant theft of municipal infrastructure in the Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality.
- Five theft cases were reported to SAPS in Mookgophong within one week, leaving parts of Ward 10 unsafe and in the dark.
- The DA calls for concerted action to catch and prosecute the culprits and protect municipal infrastructure from further theft.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Modimolle-Mookgophong is calling for urgent and concerted action after a surge in municipal cable and infrastructure theft left parts of Ward 10 in darkness and placed residents at risk. Those responsible must be caught and prosecuted, while immediate steps must be taken to repair and secure vital municipal infrastructure.
People cannot be expected to live in communities where criminals have free rein, municipal infrastructure is being pilfered with impunity, and residents suffer the consequences.
Five separate theft cases were reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) within one week. Four involved electrical infrastructure, while one involved the theft of a residential water meter.
The affected areas include Ngobeni Crescent, Letlapi Crescent, Meetse Street and Prosperity Street.
The theft of electrical cables has knocked out streetlights in these areas. This is not merely the loss of and damage to public infrastructure. It has created a serious safety risk for residents, particularly shift workers travelling at night and schoolchildren walking through dark streets in the early morning.
Criminals cannot be allowed to strip communities bare of basic services and leave residents to live with the consequences.
The following SAPS case numbers were reported:
- CAS 29/06/2026
- CAS 142/06/2026
- CAS 148/06/2026
- CAS 2/07/2026
- CAS 3/07/2026
The DA calls on the Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality to repair the damaged streetlights without delay and strengthen the protection of vulnerable electrical and water infrastructure.
SAPS must properly investigate these cases and ensure that those responsible are arrested and prosecuted.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant and immediately report suspicious activity near electrical pylons, substations, streetlights, cables and water meters.
The response must be clear: catch the criminals, prosecute them, and repair and secure our vital municipal infrastructure.