In a bizarre coincidence five more power stations in Centurion, since Sunday, were targeted and damaged on Tuesday afternoon.
According to Councillor Ina Strijdom a mini-substation was damaged in Kruger ave at around 16:00. She said residents spotted three suspects stealing cables. The residents informed Strijdom who also called the Tshwane metro police.
By the time the Tswane metro police arrived the suspects had fled the scene. Strijdom said the damage was not as much and she suspected that only a few street lights in the area would be affected.
“It is believed that these criminals target the streetlight electric box so that they can return later to steal the rest of the cables in the dark,” Strijdom claimed.
Later on Tuesday afternoon the second case was reported where cables were stolen from another mini-substation Lyttleton near the Unitas hospital.
“Three others attempts were also reported on Tuesday evening. Two more mini-substations in the Hoewes and in Theuns van Niekerk street were targeted while cable thieves started to vandalise a substation in Jan street, Eldoraigne.
“The Tshwane metro police were deployed in time for the last three attempts and the criminals failed to steal anything. The fences at these stations were already damaged as they tried to enter the premises.”
Strijdom said that it is unclear whether the damages will cause any inconvenience.
Centurion residents have been without power since Sunday after cable thieves wreaked havoc at the Brakfontein substation.
Strijdom said that most of the areas that were affected by the Brakfontein substations damage were fixed and that the rest of the areas can expect their electricity to be returned by Wednesday evening.
She further asked that people should use their electricity sparsely as not to over exhaust the support stations.
On Monday the Kentron substation in Echo Park broke into flames.
Johan Pieterse, spokesperson for the Tshwane Emergency Services, said they are currently unable to identify what caused the fire and that no one was injured during the fire.
Selby Bokaba, spokesperson for the metro, said residents are urged to report power failures. SMS the word POWER followed by your account number to 082-612-0333. Or report a power failure to 012-35- 9999, choosing the electricity option or 080-111-556.
Read more:
Centurion power hopefulle restored in two days
Vandalism of electric sub stations and cable theft on the rise
