Infrastructure Security, an overlooked priority by Emeka Umeche

Recently, several ESKOM pylons fell on the N4 National route, causing massive blackouts across large areas of South Africa’s economic powerhouse, Gauteng. The cause of the failure of these pylons has been attributed to damage to the structural integrity of these structures caused by stripping some of the key structural elements of the pylons. The impact of this failure is evident in the economic damage to the areas suffering electricity blackouts, and also on the blockading of one of the busiest highways in the country. What may not be so evident is the impact on the supply chains that are dependent on a lot of the affected businesses. A number far greater than the evident impact. The evident failure of these pylons is not a unique case, as we have seen other infrastructure including water treatment plants, railway infrastructure, electricity cables amongst others that have been looted of critical infrastructure, rendering some of these infrastructures obsolete.

One of the main causes of infrastructure insecurity in South Africa is crime. The country has a high crime rate, which includes theft and vandalism of infrastructure. While there has been some success in prosecutions on infrastructure vandalization, with the National Prosecuting Authority successfully securing 193 convictions, with harsh sentencing. The impact of the large-scale looting of the nations infrastructure is growing at a larger rate, with the direct economic impact growing as well. The annual damage from copper cable theft from rail and electricity networks alone is estimated at about R45 billion. In addition to the economic impact, there is also the social impact as the damage to this infrastructure often lead to unsafe circumstances while also reducing the quality of life of the society.

Infrastructure insecurity can have a significant economic impact on a country, both in the short term and the long term. The economic effects can be widespread, affecting industries, businesses, and individuals. In the short term, infrastructure insecurity can lead to service disruptions and supply chain disruptions, which can result in increased costs and reduced productivity. For example, if a power outage occurs due to the failure of critical infrastructure, businesses may be forced to shut down or reduce production, resulting in lost revenue and reduced output. Infrastructure insecurity can also lead to increased costs associated with repairing and replacing damaged infrastructure. This can result in increased taxes or fees, which can place a burden on individuals and businesses. In the long term, infrastructure insecurity can lead to reduced investment and economic growth. Investors may be hesitant to invest in a country with inadequate or unreliable infrastructure, which can result in reduced job creation and economic activity. In addition, infrastructure insecurity can lead to decreased quality of life, which can make a country less attractive to investors, businesses, and skilled workers.

Infrastructure insecurity can also lead to increased social and economic inequality, particularly for vulnerable populations who rely on critical infrastructure for their livelihoods. For example, if a water treatment plant fails due to infrastructure vandalism, it can lead to a water crisis that disproportionately affects low-income communities. The cost of replacing stolen infrastructure components is also high, resulting in increased costs for government and ultimately for consumers.

The prioritization of infrastructure security is sometimes overlooked because of competing constraints. Government and SOCs have limited resources, and consequently may prioritize other areas over infrastructure security. Also, infrastructure security is often viewed as a technical issue, and the general public may not be aware of its importance or impact. This lack of public awareness can make it difficult to generate political will to prioritize infrastructure security. Additionally, decision-makers may sometimes prioritize short-term goals over long-term infrastructure security. For example, it may be more politically expedient to allocate funds towards visible infrastructure projects that can generate immediate benefits, rather than investing in the security and maintenance of existing infrastructure. However, despite these competing priorities, what is clear is that infrastructure security needs to be prioritized if the economic growth government seeks is to be unlocked.

Consequently, solutions such as leveraging technology must be investigated to combat the infrastructure insecurity crisis. The use of drones at night has proven to be successful in deterring infrastructure vandals via utilizing thermal imaging cameras. Drones provide other benefits such as being unseen and unheard, while being able to access difficult to reach areas. Other technologies that could be leveraged include the use of sensors in vandalism hotspots that detect vibrations, and send signals to control rooms, providing GPS locations and analysis of vibrations. Allowing the control room to react expediently. In East Africa, unique solutions utilize devices connected to physical infrastructure to help monitor them in real time, as well as detect possible vandalism and provide alerts in real time. Such technologies are advanced enough to distinguish between disruption from wind or wild animals and human interference to accurately trigger a warning.

In summary, infrastructure insecurity can have significant social and economic impacts, including service disruptions, increased costs, reduced productivity, reduced investment, and social and economic inequality. It is therefore essential for government to prioritize infrastructure security to ensure the long-term economic health and well-being of the country. There is a need for investment in technological measures to protect infrastructure assets from vandalism. This requires collaboration between government, the private sector, and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive strategy for addressing infrastructure insecurity and ensuring the country’s infrastructure remains resilient and secure.

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