Entity’s response to cable debacle
RANDBURG – Stolen cables left unearthed because soil was wet.
Joburg Water has responded to the case of electricity cable theft in North Riding Agricultural Holdings.
Unearthed electricity cables were exposed due to work by Johannesburg Water on a burst water pipe on the corner of Boundary Road and Valley Road on 25 February.
A part of this cable was stolen at the site during load shedding on the night of 6 March.
The entity’s spokesperson Millicent Kabwe said, “The cables that were exposed could not be covered as we don’t use wet soil for back-filling as this may cause the pipe to break or burst,” she said.
“We will continue with the work once we can get access to dry soil, which is difficult at the moment due to constant rain, to complete the backfilling.”
Junior Ncube, who works in the area heard an explosion near the site on 7 March and saw “a cloud of smoke” above the cable.
It was believed that rain water had come in contact with the cable and caused a small explosion.
Details: Johannesburg Water 011 688 1400.
