A crisis that demands immediate action – The Mail & Guardian

Workers repair a destroyed power station in Johannesburg’s Fleurhof neighborhood. (Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

South Africa is facing a widespread and creeping epidemic of vandalism and theft of infrastructure. The incidents have grown from isolated incidents to a pervasive and debilitating threat.

Recently, the Ministry of Water and Sanitation raised the alarm over a disturbing increase in vandalism targeting water infrastructure across the country.

In Gauteng, a crisis erupted in January 2024 when the Department of Roads and Transport issued a desperate appeal to the public to report vandalism. This came after a huge increase in theft and destruction of traffic lights, which hit the provincial coffers with R30 million.

In the Western Cape, City of Cape Town Energy Committee member Beverley van Reenen issued a stark warning in March 2024 about the relentless attacks on the city’s electricity infrastructure, leaving local communities vulnerable and exposed. The city recently noted that it had spent more than R7 million in just a few months repairing destroyed electricity infrastructure.

In KwaZulu Natal, the eThekwini Municipality was forced to impose water restrictions in several areas last month after the oThongathi Water Treatment Works suffered theft and vandalism, threatening water supplies and leaving residents insecure.

Vandalism targeting public infrastructure takes a staggering toll on the economy, with losses hovering around an estimated R187 billion per year. This figure dwarfs the economic effects of other criminal elements in the infrastructure sector, including the construction mafia, which has become a focal point of government’s anti-crime efforts. The latter is estimated to suck a substantial R68 billion out of the economy annually, mainly through extortion, project delays and cancellations.

In addition to the huge financial losses, the consequences of vandalism also have a major impact on the daily lives of citizens. They are regularly confronted with power outages, water shortages and restrictions, disrupted transport services, prolonged communication outages and reduced access to essential public services. This ultimately affects their quality of life and sense of security.

Despite the consequences, South Africa’s efforts to combat infrastructure vandalism remain inadequate, and lack a unified and progressive strategy. The country’s response is marked by a paradox: a reactive approach focused on investigations and prosecutions, rather than a proactive approach focused on prevention and preemption.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill, which introduces harsh penalties of up to 10 years in prison or R5 million in fines for vandalism of electrical infrastructure. The number of offenders being brought to justice and given severe sentences, such as the recent case of five Zimbabweans who were sentenced to 10 years in prison for theft of solar batteries and copper cables in the Northern Cape, is also encouraging. However, these are piecemeal solutions that do not address the root causes of the problem. This underscores the overall reactionary approach of the government to combating infrastructure vandalism.

To effectively combat vandalism in infrastructure, a preventive approach is needed, with strict penalties and a comprehensive proactive strategy. The emphasis is on strengthening the state’s enforcement capabilities in combating vandalism.

This approach should include advanced solutions that strengthen surveillance capabilities through advanced technologies, enhance intelligence gathering and analysis to identify potential threats, encourage community engagement and participation, and enable targeted interventions to prevent attacks before they occur — strengthening our defenses and protecting our critical infrastructure.

Furthermore, the need for government departments to harmonise their efforts cannot be overstated. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s recent call for “collective responsibility” in preventing vandalism of public infrastructure resonates deeply. To achieve this goal, the state must urgently convene a synergistic partnership between departments that drive infrastructure development (public works and infrastructure, transport), those that manage our social and economic infrastructure (electricity, education, health, social development) and the investigative and prosecution departments (Hawks, police, National Prosecuting Authority).

This multi-agency unit should serve as a national hub, bringing together stakeholders from civil society and the private sector to promote innovative solutions, progressive policies and robust enforcement protocols that will strengthen efforts against vandalism. Ultimately, a cohesive and resilient framework should emerge for protecting our nation’s assets.

By creating such a collaborative entity that optimizes scarce resources through efficient and effective allocation, we can move away from fragmented approaches and toward a more coherent understanding of the problem. This in turn will enable us to devise and implement comprehensive measures to limit the destruction of our public assets, and ultimately protect the foundation of our shared infrastructure.

Siseko Maposa is the director of Surgetower Associates, a management consulting firm specializing in government, corporate and foreign affairs.