R2.6m cable theft stalls handover of Mpumalanga parliamentary village, says The Citizen

Work on the Mpumalanga parliamentary village has been halted after the theft of electrical cables worth R2.6 million, according to The Citizen. The theft has forced officials to postpone the planned handover of the development.

Project history and cost overruns

According to The Citizen, construction on the parliamentary village began in 2017 and the project was originally scheduled for completion in April 2020. The project’s original budget was R300 million, but about R1 billion has already been spent, The Citizen reported.

Theft prompted fresh delay

The Citizen said a project progress report received by the portfolio committee on public works, roads and transport indicated the contractor told the committee the village would no longer be handed over in August. The contractor attributed the delay to the theft and vandalism of telemetry accessories and water-station electrical cables, The Citizen reported.

Political reaction and security questions

The Citizen quoted African People’s Convention leader Themba Godi saying the theft raised concerns about waste and possible sabotage. In The Citizen’s report Godi said:

“If it was true that electrical cables worth R2.6 million have been stolen, there could have been minor damages, but there are people who want to steal money in the name of replacing those cables.”

The Citizen also quoted Mpumalanga DA MPL Teboho Sekaledi raising questions about site protection and saying the breach of security should prompt scrutiny of authorities, given that places like parliament and parliamentary villages are covered by the National Key Point Act in some instances, The Citizen reported.

Department response

According to The Citizen, department spokesperson Bongani Dhlamini confirmed the theft and said a case was opened. The Citizen reported Dhlamini as saying the contractor remained responsible for the site until completion and that the private security hired by the contractor was on site. The Citizen also reported Dhlamini saying that once the village is handed over, an application to declare it a national key point would be made and government security measures implemented.

What happens next

The Citizen’s reporting shows the theft has delayed the handover and prompted calls for improved security while the case remains open and the contractor continues to be responsible for the site.