Electric cable thieves in dock for allegedly stealing copper

Four suspects aged 19, 20, 21 and 23-years-old are set to appear before the Boshof Magistrate Court, after being arrested for the alleged stolen copper cable in Boshof yesterday, June 9.

The Boshof police pounced on the alleged suspects after receiving a tip-off from a concerned community member.

“Members (police officers) operationalised the information and suspects threw the copper cable on the ground when they saw the police van,” said police spokesperson in the district, captain Stephen Thakeng.

“The following items were found : 12 meters black cable and burnt rusted electric cable.”

Thakeng said the four suspects were busted and they are facing a theft case for being possession of suspected stolen property.

“Members (police officers) who effected the arrests and seizure are constable Ben Zonza, constable Andile Bubesi, constable Mabote and constable Sekoto Skoto of Boshof Visible Policing,” he detailed further.

In another similar destruction of property, one suspect was arrested in possession of suspected stolen cellphone network tower 5 sim containers in Zamdela, Fezile Dabi region.

Fezile Dabi district police spokesperson captain Malebo Khosana said, on Wednesday, June 8, at about 00h30, police officers from Zamdela SAPS received a complaint of people tampering with cellphone towers in Phase 5, Zamdela.

“Upon arrival at the scene, the members managed to arrest one suspect aged 38 years. Four other suspects managed to flee the scene.

“Five sim containers stolen inside the cellphone towers were recovered,” Khosana said.

The 38-year-old will appear in Sasolburg Magistrates Court soon, facing charges of possession suspected stolen property and tampering with essential infrastructure.

Destruction of essential infrastructures tampers with service delivery

The growing trend of rampant theft of copper cables and network cables in the Free State have plunged several residents in darkness, where the Eskom has intensified load reduction in major parts of the province due to the incapacity of sufficient power supply.

Eskom has previously indicated that, it is worried about the theft of copper cables and network fuses across the country.

Kasi Voice News reached out to Eskom spokesperson, Sikonathi Mantshantsha , who said recent cases of cable theft are costing the embattled power utility to sustain itself.

“The theft of fuses not only leads to constant outages that inconvenience residents, but it is also costing Eskom millions of rands.

We appeal to residents to be vigilant and assist us by reporting any suspicious activity around the electricity infrastructure,” said Mantshantsha.