Telkom blamed for cable theft crisis

Cable theft in SA has become a crisis and this is in large part Telkom's fault, according to Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications chairperson Sikhumbuzo Eric Kholwane.

He explains that Telkom is aware of the cable theft problem since it has been going on for a long time, but there isn't enough satisfactory action against the crime, or to correct the situation after the crime. Kholwane also says the portfolio committee needs to engage on this matter, and find alternatives and solutions.

“Indeed, it is a national crisis, but it's not just a problem of cable theft. When you go on oversight you realise people can no longer access the Internet or post office services, for example,” says Kholwane, referring to a committee oversight visit to Limpopo.

He adds that efforts like the Thusong centres, which are multi-purpose community centres aimed at improving service delivery and increasing access to government services for the poor and previously-disadvantaged, have become redundant in the face of cable theft.

“So it has become a national crisis, because people are being denied these basic services and this is a problem. Telkom needs to wake up and realise it's not about them, but about the betterment of the people. When you speak to people they say the help and responses from Telkom are not encouraging at all.”

In many high-theft areas, cable is repeatedly stolen, sometimes within days of replacements or repairs. “Telkom has observed a trend in the deliberately determined cycle of theft. This is damaging businesses, depriving our customers of a basic service and, in some cases, adversely affecting their security. Of course this is affecting our capacity to deliver services within acceptable time intervals.”

The company says in its efforts to counter the scourge of cable theft, it has adopted various interventions, including alarming critical and sensitive cable routes and employing services of armed security firms; deploying various wireless technologies as an alternative to copper; assessing vulnerable aerial cable routes and, where feasible, these are buried underground.

Telkom is also working with the Non-Ferrous Theft Combating Committee; implementing a national campaign to raise awareness of the company's toll-free crime-report line (0800124000); and engaging government and other relevant stakeholders with a view to formulating sustainable solutions. One such initiative is to reclassify copper either as a semi-precious or precious metal.

“Telkom always endeavours to restore interrupted services as expeditiously as possible.” However, it adds that each incident of cable theft needs to be handled uniquely. Some cases allow for the replacement of the stolen cable, while others need alternative access technology. Also, some delays can be attributed to the procedural time lapses associated with acquiring wayleaves from metropolitans and town councils, as well as environmental impact assessment studies that are essential especially in the advent of converting to a wireless intervention.

Although incidents of copper theft nationally have declined by 17.4% during the past year, the number of cable theft incidents in Telkom has increased in the 2011 financial year by 17%. The number of customers whose services have been affected have peaked at 354 732. On the optic fibre cable front, 979 theft and sabotage incidents were reported, according to the telco's 2011 annual report.