Residents in several neighborhoods of Richards Bay have been left without electricity after vandals targeted the Vega Substation, causing widespread power disruptions.
The affected areas include Birdswood, Mandlazini, Veldenvlei, and parts of Wildenweide. The uMhlathuze Local Municipality has classified the incident as an act of sabotage, warning that it appears linked to a criminal syndicate specializing in attacks on electrical infrastructure.
This latest vandalism follows a pattern of similar incidents in recent weeks. The Grant (also referred to as Grantham or Granum) Substation in Empangeni and the Aquila Substation, which supplies the Arboretum area, were previously hit. On Wednesday, additional vandalism was reported at the Granum Substation in Empangeni, where all control circuit wiring and protection wiring were damaged. The municipality noted that a single fault in such a compromised setup could trip upstream, potentially affecting all residents of Empangeni.
uMhlathuze Local Municipality Mayor Xolani Ngwezi described the situation as “very bad,” confirming that damage from the Vega Substation incident alone, combined with other recent mini-substation attacks, has cost the municipality just over 4 million rand. He highlighted ongoing challenges, including a recent alert from intelligence services that prompted the deployment of security at another mini-substation. Around 1:30 a.m., a guard observed suspicious activity involving what appeared to be a municipal vehicle, though the number plate could not be captured. The municipality is tracking the vehicle via its installed device system.
Mayor Ngwezi emphasized that previous arrests have included two suspects, one of whom was a security guard contracted by a company hired to protect municipal infrastructure. He described the perpetrators as “professional people who know what to do with electrical infrastructure,” suggesting a well-coordinated effort rather than opportunistic theft.
The mayor linked the repeated attacks to organized crime, noting the high financial incentives for those involved, as stolen materials fetch significant sums on the black market. He stressed the broader impacts beyond financial losses—the municipality serves communities, and power outages threaten lives, particularly for individuals reliant on refrigerated medication.
Efforts are underway to restore electricity supply, while the municipality is intensifying security measures. Mayor Ngwezi announced plans for an urgent meeting to discuss enhanced protection strategies, including increased budgeting for safeguarding infrastructure. He called on residents, community policing forums (CPFs), and security units to collaborate in the fight against vandalism by reporting suspicious individuals near electrical assets without proper uniforms.
Mayor Ngwezi urged community members to expose those buying stolen equipment, stating that dismantling the market for such materials is essential to curbing the problem. He reiterated a plea to police to “leave no stone unturned” in their investigation.
The incidents underscore the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the region and the urgent need for collective vigilance to prevent further sabotage. Restoration teams are working to bring power back online, though no specific timeline has been provided in the latest updates.