Load shedding leads to cable theft
Under cover of dark, and without fear of electrocution, people stole electricity cables in North Riding.
Electricity cables were stolen in North Riding Agricultural Holdings as a result of load shedding and poor maintenance of a burst water pipe.
The pipe which is located on the corner of Boundary Road and Valley Road initially burst on 25 February.
When Joburg Water responded the next day they replaced the pipe but failed to see an exposed electricity cable that was unearthed, and apparently left it in plain sight.
When the area experienced load shedding on the night of 6 March, thieves took the opportunity to steal the cable.
“This morning I found trenches dug and parts of the cable missing,” said Junior Ncube who works in the area. The end of a cable was found about 2m from the pool of water, and caused a small explosion on 7 March.
“I heard an explosion and turned to see a cloud of smoke.”
The entity’s spokesperson Millicent Kabwe was asked for comment on 26 February about the burst pipe, but had not responded at the time of going to print
Details: Joburg Water 011 688 1400.
