Alleged acts of sabotage and vandalism to electricity structures in Cape St Francis have resulted in damages amounting to R22,150-00, the SAPS says.
The Eastern Cape SAPS spokesperson for the Sarah Baartman District, Captain Marius McCarthy, says a case of damage to essential infrastructure was opened after an electricity ‘strain pole’ was cut down, resulting to power outages in Cape St Francis area. “It is alleged that next to the pole were plank boards bearing messages such as: “Hear our voices. We want electricity. Give our power back”.
McCarthy says the damage to property occurred after Kouga Municipality removed illegal connections and confiscated cables and electrical wiring, which were illegally supplying informal settlements of Zwelitsha and Malema in Sea Vista location, St Francis Bay.
Meanwhile, there have been many comments on social media with widely diverse views. Several owners of Sea Vista shacks have commented on social media posts, such as: “It’s not wanting the free electricity. We want electricity boxes.
“They came to us with empty promises to get our vote and we voted and they did not deliver!” “If we have prepaid electricity boxes we will buy electricity”
And in the formal residential areas some have commented a similar refrain:”We voted for them and pay rates, and now we sit in the dark with no power in the freezing cold and damp.” “The ‘cardboard messages’ are an indication of more to come!” “They allowed the illegal connections for years, now they whip the carpet from under them… what did they expect?” And yet other locals want the SAPS to arrest the culprits asap and jail them.
The alleged acts vandalism and sabotage occurred in St Francis areas with poles pulled down or sawed through as public photos show. (See previous post for photos).
And these acts of apparent sabotage have led to several power cuts, up to two hours for a whole day and more in Cape St Francis where residents are currently irate as the mobile tower battery has died so residents have no cell phone coverage.
Eskom could not repair the damage by evening, and KM says the electricity restore process is out of KM’s hands, and one one has to wait for Eskom – probably the whole night tonight . Some locals have commented that the ‘war between the Sea Vista residents and KM’ is not their fault, but they in Cape St Francis are suffering right now without power or phones on such a cold night – and yet there are lights on in Sea Vista!
“We pay rates and have to live like this,” is a common refrain among many disgruntled CSF residents. Plus, overall in St Francis area there is wide-spread anger and confusion prevalent now.
