City’s R6 million Sea Point underground cabling project nears completion

20 March 2025

The City of Cape Town’s R6 million underground electricity cabling project in Sea Point is nearing completion and is one of the City’s interventions to combat crises level electricity infrastructure vandalism across the metro. Approximately 2000 metres of overhead electricity conductors in total will be removed and replaced with underground cabling in the area.

‘The City is pleased to announce that its R6 million underground electricity cabling project in a targeted area in Sea Point will be completed by the end of May 2025, if all goes according to plan.  The project commenced in 2024, where our teams removed 22 electricity poles and electricity cabling in five roads in the area.

‘Over the next three months, the teams will be completing the project in the remaining four roads. Our teams are committed to completing the Sea Point underground cabling project in a timely manner, with minimum disruption to customers.

‘In Area North, the programme is being rolled out in eight other areas, including Woodstock and Oranjezicht. Our teams are also carrying out underground cabling projects across the metro and these projects represent the City’s investment into the future, which will deliver numerous benefits to residents and businesses.

‘In the previous Financial Year (2023/2024), the City completed major overhead to underground infrastructure projects in areas including; Bonteheuwel, Kewtown, Kensington, Pinelands and Woodstock.

‘As one of the City’s vandalism and theft deterrents, the City utilises aluminium cabling for streetlights and for its Low Voltage (LV) and Medium Voltage (MV) networks due to the material’s lower resale value compared to copper.

‘The City’s transition to underground electricity cabling and infrastructure is a key component to our long-term vision to modernise and enhance the reliability of our infrastructure and network. We are committed to investing in our electricity infrastructure to ensure it remains resilient and reliable to support the prosperity of our communities,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.

• Improved reliability
Underground cable infrastructure is less susceptible to weather related faults such as storms and falling trees.

• Safety
Underground cabling reduces the risk of electrical accidents from people, cars and animals coming into contact with the power lines. It also holds the potential to reduce the risk of vandalism.

• Visually appealing
Underground cable eliminates the need for poles and overhead power lines in an area, which greatly improves the visual appeal of an urban area.

Report to the City

Residents can log streetlight and other electricity faults online via the City’s service request platform, by dialling our call centre, sending an SMS or via the City’s new dedicated electricity faults WhatsApp line on 060 018 1505. 

Let’s ACT: Protect Your Power against theft, illegal connections and vandalism:
Report suspicious behaviour to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre: 021 480 7700

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office