Community, police uncover syndicate, recover tons of stolen cable
Residents in Pretoria North took hands with activists and the police to catch an alleged kingpin of cable theft in an informal settlement.
Police retrieved more than two tons of stolen cable in Klerksoord in Pretoria North at the weekend thanks to the help of community members. An arrest was also made.
This was confirmed by community leader and DA activist, Mickey van der Westhuizen.
“On Sunday morning, I attended a community gathering in Klerksoord where residents expressed their grievances regarding the inadequate service delivery in their area. They voiced concerns about overgrown grass and non-functional streetlights, both of which have contributed to an escalation in crime. The primary reason for their gathering was the prolonged power outage that had persisted since the previous day,” said Van der Westhuizen.
He said later in the day, the Tshwane team arrived and accompanied by residents, fixed the outage.
“During this inspection, they discovered illegal connections and a disturbing sight: stripped cables belonging to Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa at Ventrinice settlement,” he said.
A resident Van der Westhuizen had met earlier, contacted him to report the find and requested his presence to support the community and understand their frustrations.
Van der Westhuizen, residents and Akasia police entered the informal settlement together.
The group uncovered a syndicate involved in cable theft as well as illegal liquor and drug sales.
He said a significant amount of stolen metro copper cables was recovered, along with illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco products.
“They identified the arrested suspect as the alleged kingpin behind these criminal activities. Additionally, we found tools commonly used for cable theft, including bolt cutters, blowtorches and saws,” said Van der Westhuizen.
“This collaborative effort underscored the importance of community engagement and law enforcement in addressing local issues.”
Tshwane metro DA leader Cilliers Brink welcomed the community action and response by police and DA community leaders and activists that led to the recovery.
Brink said he met with Van der Westuizen on October 28 to convey his thanks to the Klerskoord community and police for their swift action.
“The incident underscores the importance of not just community involvement in policing, but also what a whole of society approach can mean for addressing issues communities face,” said Brink. “By working together to fight crime and serve communities, government and community organisations can achieve far more than any government can achieve alone.”
– Click here to watch a video of the bust in Klerksoord
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