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SAPS Pushes for Solutions as Load Reduction Hampers Crime Prevention Efforts

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has warned that load reduction is severely impacting its ability to carry out policing duties, leaving communities vulnerable to crime while stretching already limited resources.
Divisional Commissioner for Visible Policing and Operations, Lieutenant-General Maropeng Mamotheti, told the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) inquiry in Sandton that police stations are being forced to ration fuel between vehicles and generators, hampering their operational capacity.
Police Struggle to Maintain Services Amid Power Cuts
Mamotheti highlighted that when load reduction occurs, criminals exploit the darkness to commit offenses, while police struggle with resource allocation.
“When load reduction happens, community members are left in the dark and vulnerable to criminals who take advantage of the situation. We also get affected because the fuel that should be used for police vehicles has to be redirected to keep generators running, which often burn out due to prolonged outages,” she said.
The financial burden of maintaining alternative power sources has further strained SAPS resources, making it difficult to sustain operations during extended blackouts.
Criticism Over Energy Distribution Priorities
Professor Patrick Bond from the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Social Change criticized the allocation of electricity, arguing that large corporations receive preferential treatment while ordinary citizens and small businesses suffer.
“Families that use 42% of the country’s electricity from the Eskom grid face power shortages, while big mining companies enjoy uninterrupted supply,” Bond said, suggesting that Eskom prioritizes multinational corporations over the public.
However, energy expert Chris Yelland disagreed with claims that load reduction violates human rights. He argued that it is primarily a technical issue related to infrastructure limitations rather than deliberate discrimination.
“I would say maybe the way we invest in South Africa is an infringement of human rights. But the practice of load reduction itself is just a technical matter,” Yelland explained.
While he acknowledged that discriminatory load reduction could be a concern, he stated that there was no concrete evidence suggesting unfair targeting of specific communities.
City Power Supports Inquiry into Electricity Challenges
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena welcomed the SAHRC hearings, saying they could highlight longstanding issues affecting municipalities and power providers.
“We believe this inquiry will expose the challenges faced by municipalities, including historic infrastructure issues, lack of investment, and regulatory hurdles,” Mangena said.
He emphasized the need to address key concerns such as non-payment for electricity, illegal connections, and policies that could help municipalities assist consumers.
The commission is set to continue its inquiry on February 18, as stakeholders seek solutions to the ongoing power crisis and its broader implications.
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