Metro police arrest two on cable theft charge in Soshanguve
The suspects had no job card or authorisation to touch city essential infrastructure.
The Tshwane metro police (TMPD) cable theft unit arrested two people on Wednesday for tampering with essential infrastructure in Soshanguve Block KK north of Pretoria.
According to spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba, the two, aged between 40 and 60, were nabbed near the Southpan Road dumpsite.
Mahamba said the TMPD members were patrolling around the area when they noticed two men cutting down electricity poles and cables.
“The two could not provide any form of identification or job card,” he said adding that they were in possession of a chainsaw and 12 electricity poles.
Both were arrested for tampering with essential infrastructure and will appear in court soon.
Mahamba encouraged the public to report cable theft via 012 358 1550 or metro service centre in Gezina in the Sanab Building.
“All information reported will be treated with confidentiality. The TMPD will continue to fight cable theft,” Mahamba concluded.
Recently a Tshwane technician team and MMC for utility and regional operations Themba Fosi caught a man connecting electricity illegally to the city power grid in Tswaing Block F.
He was later handed over to police.
Fosi said while he and city personnel were inspecting critical infrastructure in Soshanguve, they came upon an illegal electricity connection in Block F.
“The community member was connecting to our electrical grid without authorisation.”
He said the person had bought a transformer and was in the process of tapping into the infrastructure when city personnel intervened.
“In adherence to the commitment to law and order, we promptly contacted Rietgat police, who subsequently arrested the suspect.”
Fosi urged residents to report any person tampering with essential infrastructure to police or metro police.
He said the tampering and stealing essential infrastructure cost the city a fortune.
“The money for replacement should have been used for service delivery.”
Eskom guards held hostage as armed gang overpowers private security
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
