In a groundbreaking initiative that may set a precedent across South Africa, the Kamberg community in KwaZulu-Natal has partnered with Vodacom’s KZN region to implement additional security measures at the mobile operator’s base station sites in the area.
This collaboration aims to protect critical telecommunications infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted connectivity, particularly in remote communities where cellular networks are often the only link to the outside world.
With base station vandalism and battery theft increasingly disrupting mobile networks across the country, the Kamberg model represents a proactive, community-driven solution.
Residents in the area have gone beyond awareness, taking tangible action by installing a second layer of security—electric fencing—around three of the most frequently targeted Vodacom towers. Their efforts have already paid off: just weeks after installation, the community, in collaboration with a private security firm, apprehended two suspects and recovered two stolen batteries.
“Vodacom has always maintained that the number one line of defence against site vandalism is the local community,”
said Molefe Mahlangu, Executive Head of Operations at Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal.
“Following several meetings with the Kamberg community, they offered to help protect the network infrastructure in the area. This community-led approach is a futuristic model that we believe can play a pivotal role in ending vandalism countrywide.”
The impact of such criminal activity extends far beyond the theft of equipment. When a base station is vandalised or its batteries are stolen, entire communities—often hundreds of thousands of people—are left without access to communication services. This disrupts daily life, hampers local businesses, and in emergency situations, can prove life-threatening.
Each restoration of a vandalised site costs Vodacom approximately R70,000, diverting funds away from network improvements and rural expansion projects. Nationally, Vodacom loses around R100 million annually to these crimes.
To further bolster site security, Vodacom has introduced high-security battery cabinets, hardened containers, 24/7 surveillance cameras, and rapid-response personnel. The telco is also working closely with local law enforcement, private security companies, and communities to arrest and prosecute offenders. Several cases are currently awaiting trial.
The Kamberg valley, nestled in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains, is a quiet farming community described by locals as
“the valley which God created once he had practised on the rest of the world.”
Now, this peaceful enclave is earning recognition not just for its natural beauty but for its leadership in safeguarding connectivity.
Vodacom urges all South Africans to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity near network towers by calling their toll-free number 082 241 9952 or SAPS on 10111.
