Reports this weekend that nine security guards contracted to City Power were arrested in connection with theft of cables they were meant to guard must concern us all. This is not merely a case of thieving guards, it’s a betrayal of trust which forces us to ask: who must guard the guards?
The utility has signed contracts worth millions of rand with security companies to ensure infrastructure critical for the functioning of Johannesburg, the country’s economic powerhouse, is protected.
City Power said 15 people were arrested as its operation to curb cable theft and vandalism intensifies. Two guards were arrested at their head office in Reuven after cables found and confiscated from a scrap metal dealer in Johannesburg's inner city earlier were found in their car. Seven other guards were arrested during the operation.
City Power said the alleged involvement of contracted security officers was worrying because they were entrusted with safeguarding its infrastructure. Earlier this year it reinforced security operations with extra intelligence and technology to unmask internal collaborators.
The alleged action of these guards is also an insult to guards who had been attacked, some of whom had been killed, while trying to protect City Power infrastructure.
In May, City Power’s security team exchanged fire with people living in an informal settlement under the M1 after they were found stealing cables burnt during the recent fire. No-one was injured.
In April 2022, two guards were ambushed and killed by attackers in Newtown. The attack happened after the guards ferried burnt copper cables to a nearby depot from the scene of an underground fire in the Johannesburg CBD.
The justice system must deal harshly with those behind damage to essential infrastructure. An amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act in 2015 created a new offence related to damage to essential infrastructure and regulated the imposition of discretionary minimum sentences for offences.
The legislation states any person who unlawfully and intentionally tampers with, damages or destroys essential infrastructure is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a period of imprisonment not exceeding 30 years.
Courts lately have been imposing stiff sentences for those found guilty of infrastructure-related offences. It is hoped this trend will continue with those arrested, if they are convicted of the offence.
City Power should ensure guards alleged to be involved are suspended and allow the law to take its course.
It must also demand security companies it contracts do security vetting on employees and measures to ensure compliance with a code of conduct are in place.
However, City Power has to be applauded for tightening internal controls and working with law enforcement agencies to fight vandalism and cable theft which cost the utility, and by extension the public, millions. We hope the authorities will not limit arrests to the runners but also get the kingpins. A plan must also be put in place to ensure intelligence measures are effective.
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