The theft of hundreds of thousands of rands worth of cables and other electrical equipment in the Sol Plaatje Municipality in Kimberley last week plunged two hospitals and the Mediclinic Gariep into darkness – for the second time in two months.
The municipality planned to hold an emergency meeting with the police and other stakeholders after the vandalism at the substations, where substantial damage was caused by the thieves.
Stephan Deetlefs, hospital manager, told News24 that the power interruption not only affected Mediclinic Gariep, but also the two adjacent hospitals, Careline and the psychiatric hospital.
“While Mediclinic has generators as well as solar panels – during the day the latter providing 50% (300 kW) of the daily need of 600 kW to provide all services in the hospital – and although the rest of the power is provided by generators, there are huge financial implications in buying diesel worth R70 000 daily to power these.”
The police are conducting a forensic investigation into the theft, municipality says its security personnel will make regular rounds at the substation to prevent another theft.
Nuclear equipment was also stolen from the substation, which will take time to replace.
News24 article – Cable theft cuts power supply to three hospitals in Kimberley (Open access)
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