Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Alexandra Abrahams, has initiated criminal proceedings against individuals responsible for damaging Eskom infrastructure in Belhar, Cape Town.The charges include malicious damage to Eskom property and theft, following consultations with Eskom officials.

The area has experienced repeated attacks on critical infrastructure, with over 50 incidents of kiosks being set on fire to access underground cabling.Abrahams emphasized that such actions have severe consequences for communities, disrupting essential services like study, work, and cooking.Eskom reported over 2,000 theft and vandalism incidents annually in the Western Cape, with Belhar being the highest-incident area.To combat this, Eskom is replacing fibreglass kiosks with steel structures and copper cables with aluminium alternatives.

However, persistent theft and vandalism continue to delay power restoration, with infrastructure sometimes stolen or damaged within months of installation.

The Department of Electricity and Energy, Eskom, and SAPS are collaborating to ensure perpetrators face legal consequences, with community members' cooperation playing a crucial role in investigations.