Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbite in English by Luan Snyders
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Rustenburg welcomes the swift investigation launched by the South African Police Service (SAPS) following the shocking armed robbery and vandalism of transformers near the Boitekong Substation on Saturday, 27 September 2025.
The Boitekong Substation is a multi-million-rand investment by the City of Rustenburg to stabilise electricity supply to greater Boitekong. This brazen criminal act, in which armed suspects attacked a security guard and stripped three transformers of copper cables worth an estimated R1.5 million, once again highlights the escalating crime that is crippling Rustenburg’s infrastructure and economy.
The DA strongly condemns these senseless acts of sabotage, which not only endanger lives but also disrupt electricity supply, derail service delivery, and undermine investor confidence in our city. Communities and businesses are left to suffer prolonged outages and economic stagnation as a direct result of unchecked copper theft and vandalism.
We call on SAPS to prioritise this case and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice without delay. Furthermore, the DA urges the Rustenburg Local Municipality to step up collaboration with law enforcement and invest in improved security measures, including modern crime-prevention technologies, to protect critical infrastructure.
Rustenburg cannot afford to be held hostage by criminal syndicates. The DA will continue to fight for safer communities, stronger policing, and accountability from authorities to protect residents and restore stability to our city.