By Nangamso Mabindla
2 April 2007

DUNCAN Village residents showed their support of Buffalo City's electricity anti-vandalism campaign at the campaign's launch at the Gompo Sports Grounds on Saturday, 31 March.

They flocked to the sports grounds to hear about the campaign, which aims to educate people about the dangers of vandalism and the negative effect it has on the City's revenue collection and service delivery. To boost its success, the municipality teamed up with its partners, which include electricity suppliers Eskom, Telkom, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Duncan Village, religious leaders, ward councillors and ward committees, and community-based organisations.

Speaking at the launch, Duncan Village SAPS station commissioner Alex Sofuthe said that vandalism was responsible for several deaths in the town. "Just this week alone at least two to three people in Duncan Village lost their lives because they were electrocuted when they stepped on to some live electric wires; and this is all because of vandalism."

Sofuthe urged people to join forces with the police and fight crime. "It is time we started working together to fight crime in our areas. And with this electricity anti-vandalism campaign we want to show criminals that we are serious about fighting crime."

Buffalo City Executive Mayor Zintle Peter echoed Sofuthe's words, saying that it was important for the City to launch the campaign in March. "This is Human Rights Month and we feel that the stealing of electricity is a violation of [the human rights of] the law-abiding citizens of Buffalo City. We want to show that we have had enough of vandalism."

However, Peter said that by launching the campaign, the City was not declaring a war on its people. "We want to talk to people, we are not here to fight. We want to hear each other's points view and then try to find amicable solutions to our challenges."

The City would also work closely with the Office of the Magistrate so that vandalism-related prosecutions could be completed speedily to send a message to law-breakers. Peter urged residents to report acts of vandalism to the municipality on 043 722 2555.

Following the formalities, the Gompo Arts and Culture Group performed a play aimed at showing people the dangers of vandalism. The SAPS also hosted a dog show demonstrating how police dogs search for drugs.