Syndicate stealing copper and steel infrastructure to sabotage us, says metro
Tshwane is losing an enormous amount of money to cable theft and involved labour hours in a process of repairing or replacing stolen and damaged infrastructure.”
A syndicate is stealing copper and steel infrastructure to sabotage the metro, Tshwane metro police (TMPD) believe.
This as the metro continued to struggle with the excessive cable theft replacement costs.
The rampant cable theft crimes have led to residents experiencing unplanned power outages.
Update on Sashanguve Block BB Power Outage:
Sashanguve Block BB experienceing power outage due to cable fault at Block BB. Test permit has been issued to pinpoint fault so that cables team can start with repairs.
However, part of BB has been restored
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) February 1, 2023
#PowerUpdate: Mooikloof Sub trip affecting Morelata Park outage, MK & Onbekend MV Rural Lines
Depot team investigated & found 4 MV boxes off.
The cause of the outage: 4x150mm 12m cables were stolen. Isolation team on site attending.
Transmission team on their way to energise.
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) January 29, 2023
Irene #PowerUpdate
Two feeder cables were stolen. Power restored. 💡— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) January 27, 2023
Copperleaf #PowerUpdate
Two cables were stolen. Power restored.💡— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) January 27, 2023
TMPD spokesperson Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said his police believed the syndicate is operating within the metro.
“We think there is a syndicate running the cable theft operations.”
Recently men were busted transporting stolen cable worth approximately R1-million from Centurion to North West.
“We followed the suspects from Tshwane to Rustenburg and we concluded that there could be more to the cable theft operations as they were running a vast network.”
He said the police were handed the information and are investigating further.
Mahamba promised harsher policing of scrap traders and more resources to fighting the rampant theft.
“We cannot divulge the exact plans for boosting our members, however, we are looking to equip our members with tools that can fight the heavily armed criminals.
These cable thieves are dangerous at times.
They are heartless and ready to kill.”
Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said cable theft was still a thorny issue that continued to affect the metro’s infrastructure negatively.
“The metro is losing enormous amount of money as a result of equipment damaged and involved labour hours in a process of repairing or replacing stolen and damaged infrastructure.”
He said the metro was supplying more security personnel to protect this infrastructure.
“The modus operandi keeps on changing as and when some improvements are being realised.”
Cable theft along the R55, between Lochner Rd and Mimosa, Raslouw, Centurion. They took the transformer also. A number of cases of theft and vandalism across the area. @CityTshwane @tshwane_mayor pic.twitter.com/llgWRC0hNF
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) March 25, 2022
Last night, security personnel were held hostage at the City of Tshwane substation in Soshanguve. The criminals then proceeded to cut and steal multicore cables. Electricity supply in various blocks will remain off for the duration of repairs. pic.twitter.com/qYuqoc5CdP
— Mayor Cilliers Brink (@tshwane_mayor) November 30, 2022
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
