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Joburg suburb hit by load shedding robbers

Cape Town – Load shedding in a Johannesburg suburb sparked a series of robberies on Monday night, according to the area’s community Whatsapp group.

Fin24 user Allison MacDonald said five houses were robbed in Waterval Estate in Northcliff during stage 2 load shedding, which Eskom implemented on Monday after not meeting the grid's demand.

MacDonald was alerted to the robberies on her Whatsapp group on Tuesday morning, which comprises of residents from the estate.

Whatsapp groups are becoming standard among South African neighbourhoords, warning each other of criminal activity and alerting each other of suspicious activity.

Tell us (click here) about your group and their experience during load shedding.

READ: Latest power alert

Insurance woes

MUA Insurance Acceptances MD Christelle Fourie said she has been inundated with claims as a result of load shedding.

“It’s actually been quite traumatic as an insurance provider,” she told Fin24.

She said a client was blow drying her hair in 2014 when load shedding hit. She went out to do some shopping and left her hairdryer on her bed. When the power came back on again, the hairdryer turned back on and caused the house to burn down. “So that was a few million rand claim that came in.”

Listen to the full interview:

Waterval Estate's night of crime






Time
to be proactive

Fourie said consumers need to take proactive steps to mitigate the risk of possible damage as a result of electricity cuts. “As load shedding is here to stay, it is up to homeowners to take the necessary steps in order to reduce their risk of financial loss caused by blackouts, including ensuring that they have adequate insurance cover in place.”

Fourie said the company has seen an in increase in power surge related claims, such as cellphones being left on charge during load shedding and subsequently damaged by the resulting power surges.

“Cellular phones can be completely damaged when the power comes back on due to a spike in electricity flow and the same would apply to all other electrical appliances, as well as computer equipment.”

She points out that they are also seeing an increase in burglary claims due to alarm systems and electric fencing being rendered inoperable, once the back-up batteries run out during extended periods of load shedding.

“We’ve seen a large number of burglaries take place during load shedding, when the alarm systems were not in operation,” she said.  
 
Fourie provided the below advice to consumers to protect themselves against financial loss due to electricity cuts.

Update your insurance policy:

Household contents policies generally have cover in place for damage to electrical equipment and appliances as a result of lightening damage, but deliberate withdrawals of power that cause power surges may not be covered.

Therefore, policyholders are encouraged to speak to their insurance brokers about additional accidental insurance cover to protect against the loss of any items resulting from power surges during the load shedding that is a reality for South Africans.

Protect your appliances against power surges:

It is advisable for consumers to have backup batteries installed into electric fencing and gates in order for your fences to be workable during blackouts.

It is always a good idea to unplug appliances, or any other electronic devices, when the electricity goes out as these devices are vulnerable to power surges. This process will help reduce the chances of damage occurring to expensive electronics.

Test your alarm system:

It is every homeowner's own responsibility to keep the alarm system in full working condition. Should a theft take place because the alarm was faulty or the back-up battery was flat, then the claim is likely to be repudiated, so it is vital to test the system regularly.

Should the power go out and the alarm system was in working order, however, this should not affect a claim against a burglary during a blackout.

Policyholders are advised to test the system regularly by activating it on purpose; ask your alarm company to service the system on a bi-annual basis; and switch the electricity off to see if the battery is in a working condition.

Be mindful of the timetables:

With the load shedding timetables being public knowledge and are freely available on the internet, consumers should always check these to plan ahead for when there is a power outage.

For example, during the time of scheduled load shedding, consumers should refrain from using lifts. They should rather opt for taking the stairs when an outage is planned to avoid the ordeal of being stuck in a lift.
 
Be cautious:

During times of load shedding, criminals could use the timetables as a guide to target certain areas during a power outage.

As a result, homeowners need to be extra alert during this time, particularly when arriving or leaving the home in the evenings.

It is also a good idea to always ensure that the home is well lit during a blackout. A good way to do this is to install solar power or battery operated lights. In addition, rechargeable torches and lights should also be kept in the home and car.

“As load shedding is becoming a part of daily South African life, it is vital that policyholders take the necessary steps and precautions to ensure that they are fully protected against any risks of financial loss that could be caused during electricity blackouts over the course of the next few years," said Fourie.

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