Vodacom is grappling with a sharp rise in base station vandalism and battery theft, particularly in the Eastern Cape and Central Region. These criminal activities are not only disrupting critical network connectivity but also imposing significant economic and social costs on affected communities.
In the Eastern Cape, Vodacom is reporting an alarming increase, with an average of 100 vandalism incidents per month and scores of batteries stolen monthly. The Central Region faces similar challenges, recording 25 to 28 incidents of theft and vandalism each month. Over the past eight months, 123 batteries have been stolen from base stations in the region.
“Criminal syndicates are targeting base station sites, ransacking them to the point of destruction. This illicit activity disrupts network services, leading to outages that significantly impact communities reliant on connectivity,” said Evah Mthimunye, Managing Executive, Vodacom Central Region.
Base stations are often the sole source of connectivity in remote areas, and their destruction leaves thousands without communication access. The consequences are severe, especially for small businesses and individuals during emergencies where connectivity can mean the difference between life and death.
Zakhele Jiyane, Managing Executive for the Eastern Cape region, emphasized the broader impact:
“As the holiday season approaches, we’ve seen a spike in vandalism. The cost of restoring and repairing infrastructure exceeds R5 million annually, funds that could otherwise support network upgrades and rural expansion.”
To combat these challenges, Vodacom is investing in enhanced security measures like trained security personnel, deploying teams to actively monitor and protect base station sites, high-security equipment installing reinforced battery cabinets and hardened site containers to deter theft.