Electricity substation damage that occurred in March. The City of uMhlathuze says it believes that the arrest of two suspects is a breakthrough in the investigation into these incidents.
Image: City of uMhlathuze / Facebook
The City of uMhlathuze has recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against infrastructure vandalism following a successful joint operation that led to the arrest of two suspects in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The suspects were apprehended on April 8, 2026, while they were allegedly caught red-handed tampering with a municipal mini-substation. During questioning, the pair disclosed the locations where stolen cables and vital substation components were being stored.
This latest breakthrough comes as residents under the City of uMhlathuze continue to endure repeated power outages, with the Richards Bay-based municipality attributing the disruptions to persistent vandalism of critical electricity infrastructure, damage it says is costing millions of rand to repair.
The City’s Electrical Department has since confirmed that the recovered materials were indeed components of municipal infrastructure.
City Mayor Xolani Ngwezi commended the collaboration between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and private security partners.
"We applaud SAPS and all stakeholders involved for their swift action. Infrastructure vandalism undermines service delivery, and we remain committed to protecting municipal assets and ensuring that perpetrators face the full might of the law," said Ngwezi.
The arrests follow a string of "barbaric" attacks on the city’s power grid that have left several suburbs in the dark over the past month. On March 25, 2026, the Aquila substation in Richards Bay was hit, causing "extensive" damage and plunging the entire Arboretum area into a blackout.
Just weeks earlier, on March 13, the Vega Substation was targeted, affecting residents in Birdswood, Mandlazini, Veldenvlei, and parts of Wildenweide.
At the time, Mayor Ngwezi stated that the City views these incidents as "direct acts of sabotage" involving criminal syndicates.
The municipality further noted that these incidents followed two other separate vandalism attacks in the Empangeni area in early March.
"It is quite clear that there are individuals who are determined to sabotage our infrastructure. We have put in place a number of security measures to safeguard our sub-stations," Ngwezi previously stated.
The City has reiterated its plea for residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving municipal infrastructure, maintaining that community involvement is key to stopping the "senseless" destruction of state assets.
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