VIDEO – Ermelo Ext 14 substation damaged amid recurring cable theft concerns
Cut cables at an Ext 14 substation affected electricity supply to several Ermelo streets and surrounding residential areas.
ERMELO – Cut cables at the Ext 14 substation affected electricity supply to parts of Ermelo, once again putting the spotlight on damage to the town’s electrical infrastructure.
The affected areas included Piekaar, Merino and Chris de Villiers streets.
Video footage supplied to Highvelder shows several heavy electrical cables severed inside the substation.
Highvelder approached Msukaligwa Local Municipality for information about the incident, including confirmation of whether the cables had been stolen, the extent and cost of the damage, and how many consumers were affected. No response had been received by the time of publication.
If you are unable to see the video, you can also watch it on our YouTube Channel: HERE
Cable theft and damage to electrical infrastructure have repeatedly affected Ermelo.
Two men fled from security officers and abandoned a black bag containing the cable.
There was no information at the time linking that incident to damaged municipal infrastructure.
Earlier in September, state prosecutor Charles Lloyd also warned through Highvelder about the serious legal consequences associated with stealing and tampering with essential infrastructure.
Under certain circumstances, offences involving essential infrastructure can attract a prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.
The latest damage at Ext 14 adds to the town’s longstanding concerns over the protection of electricity infrastructure.
Read more about previous cable theft incidents in Ermelo, arrests and the impact on electrical infrastructure in the Highvelder’s printed edition.
