The Kamberg community in KwaZulu-Natal, through its partnership with Vodacom and private security, has installed a second layer of security surrounding three Vodacom towers in the area and apprehended two battery thieves.
In a statement, Vodacom said the community installed electric fencing surrounding three towers in the area that battery thieves frequently hit.
This will help mitigate the theft of critical components from base stations, including their battery backups.
According to Vodacom, restoring connectivity after incidents of theft or vandalism costs upwards of R70,000 per site and as much as R100 million per year.
This money could be put towards network upgrades and enhancements.
The mobile network operator said its partnership with the community will pave the way for a new community-led model to ensure the safety and security of base station sites in KwaZulu-Natal.
“Critically, this will ensure uninterrupted access to connectivity benefits everyone in the area,” added Vodacom.
The mobile operator said cellular base stations often serve as the only form of connectivity for many remote communities.
“When these sites are vandalised, or batteries are stolen, hundreds of thousands of residents are left without connectivity,” it added.
“This not only affects individuals and small businesses but also has serious consequences in emergency situations when making a call can be a matter of life and death.”
After installing the electric fence surrounding Vodacom’s towers, Kamberg community members and private security managed to nab two thieves for trying to steal batteries.
“The community, working together with a private security company, apprehended two criminals that broke into Vodacom’s site in the area and successfully secured two stolen batteries from the thieves,” said Vodacom.
Executive head of operations for Vodacom’s KwaZulu-Natal region, Molefe Mahlangu, says the local community is always the number one line of defence against vandalism at its towers.
“We cannot combat this issue alone and appreciate that police and private security cannot be everywhere, hence our appeals to communities to get involved,” he said.
Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal says it has invested in robust security measures to address battery theft and vandalism, including installing security cameras to monitor sites and deploying trained security personnel.
Highly-secure battery cabinets and hardened site containers have also been installed, making it more difficult for thieves to gain access.
“In addition, the region is working closely with law enforcement agencies, communities, and security companies to arrest thieves for prosecution with several cases awaiting trial,” says Vodacom.
Source: Extensia
