The involvement of South African soldiers in safeguarding infrastructure vital to the functioning of the country’s electricity generation, supply and distribution network is ongoing with what is termed a “modest” recovery – R50 000 – of stolen copper cable the latest reported success.
The length of cable – 150 metres – and its value is, according to SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Joint Operations Division communication officer Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Mathebula, further evidence this Operation Prosper deployment (which started in December 2022) is “a valuable and worthwhile endeavour”. She reports further “the concentrated deployment of the SANDF in Gauteng, the Free State and the Eastern Cape, in co-operation with the SA Police Service (SAPS), reinforced the protection of South Africa’s key energy sector infrastructure and contributed to deterring unlawful activity and potential sabotage”.
A Parliamentary statement, dated 8 May 2023, has it President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised deployment of 880 SANDF personnel to assist police protect identified Eskom power stations around the country. The authorisation was done in terms of Operation Prosper, a standing instruction for General Rudzani Maphwanya to respond when called on in “safety and security operations of national and international importance”. Ahead of this 2 700 SANDF uniformed personnel were on Eskom protection duty, along with police for 30 days starting 17 March 2023.
Mathebula reports that last year saw SANDF personnel detached to the Eskom Operation Prosper deployment conducting intelligence-led operations to secure several critical energy sites. “Relying at times on community tip-offs, these significantly aided the operation in identifying areas to zoom in on for copper theft syndicates, helping to pre-empt and thwart their plans. The impact of the SANDF visible presence is widely acknowledged as a strong deterrent to criminal activity.”
The use of military personnel along with police and Eskom security staff as a government priority started in December 2022 following intelligence indicating criminal syndicates were targeting power stations. Attacks on Eskom infrastructure, according to Mathebula, saw the national power grid over-extended resulting in Stage Six loadshedding, the Eskom euphemism for power cuts.
The Eskom Operation Prosper deployment, as per Mathebula, is more than just proof of good co-ordination between police and the SANDF “it should solicit public confidence in the state’s ability to defend its infrastructure and secure the national energy supply. Operation Prosper is, in every sense, a national duty”.
Mathebula added that in a bid to improve its in-house security capability to prevent further attacks on its electricity infrastructure, Eskom has turned to drone technology, amongst other technologies.
