Thieves steal electric cable

BETHAL – Most residents in Ext 3 were without electricity from about 4.15pm when cables in Van der Hyde Avenue were stolen on 7 December.

The thieves were equipped with a homemade ladder which was later removed from the pole by the police.

An electrical pole nearby also fell over in the road after the wires were clipped.

The pole was rotten at the bottom and was only held up by these wires.

A resident who arrived on the scene, was approached by a man who claimed the ladder was his and said he knew the man who stole the ladder from him.

He also mentioned that the man had a bolt cutter and that he knew where the man stays.

Residents contacted the police and the municipality.

When the police arrived, the residents informed them what happened and told them about the man who claimed he knows who the perpetrator is.

The police acknowledged this information and said that residents should tell the man to go to the police station.

Residents told them that they would fetch the witness, which they did, whereafter the police briefly spoke to the man and said they could not do more until a municipal employee or official opened a case.

The police then took down the ladder and left.

Residents were upset with the way the police handled the situation.

“It is shocking, you would expect them to at least investigate the matter.

“The suspect is given to them on a silver platter, but they prefer to wait until someone opens a case.”

Residents then tried in vain to contact a municipal electrician to restore the electricity.

Mr Hannes van Baalen, DA-councillor, contacted the employee at 8.30am to which the employee apparently said he was on his way.

Other residents who grew tired of waiting after about two and a half hours, also phoned the employee and he told them he would be there in an hour.

The municipal employee passed the site twice and even hooted to the residents.

A resident then phoned him again and said that an hour has passed and asked him why he passes them and do not stop to attend to the problem.

He responded and said they had to wait another half an hour because he was busy.

The Echo and Ridge Times spotted the empty municipal bakkie in Noord Avenue, but it was not clear where the employees were working.

According to residents in Noord Avenue, their power was on.

It is not clear at this stage when the power in Ext 3 was restored.

Mr Henry Masango, head of marketing and communications for the Govan Mbeki Muncipality, could not comment at the time of going to press.

Const Mapule Tlou, communications officer for the Bethal Police Station, was also asked for comment and said she would respond as soon as she had gathered all the necessary information.