A man allegedly posing as a Tshwane electricity contractor has been arrested after he was said to have been caught illegally reconnecting electricity for payment in Soshanguve.

The suspect was arrested by the TMPD’s Cable Theft Unit at Block XX in Soshanguve on July 11, following information received from community members about unauthorised electricity reconnections in the area.

According to TMPD spokesperson Warrant Officer Puleng Motholo, residents alerted authorities after noticing suspicious activity involving a man who claimed to be carrying out official work on behalf of the metro.

“The Cable Theft Unit acted swiftly on information received from members of the community. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found the suspect actively reconnecting electricity at a residence that had previously been disconnected by the municipality,” said Motholo.

She explained that the vehicle used by the suspect displayed a metro contractor sticker on its bonnet, giving the impression that he was carrying out legitimate municipal work.

“Officers requested official documentation authorising him to perform work on municipal infrastructure. It was established that he was neither employed by nor contracted to the municipality,” she claimed.

The suspect was arrested, and officers allegedly found cash in his possession, which was believed to be payment received for illegally reconnecting electricity.

The suspect was detained at a police station and is expected to appear in court soon on charges relating to tampering with municipal essential infrastructure.

Motholo commended residents whose vigilance helped lead to the arrest.

“This arrest highlights the important role communities play in protecting municipal infrastructure. We encourage residents to continue reporting suspicious activities involving electricity, cables or any other municipal services.

“Working together with the community enables us to respond quickly and prevent further criminal activity,” she said.

TMPD Chief of Police Commissioner YCR Faro also praised both the community members who came forward with information and the officers who responded to the incident.

She urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that involve tampering with municipal infrastructure by contacting the TMPD on 012 358 7095 or 012 358 7096.

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