CROWN GARDENS – About 03:00 on Wednesday November 13, cable thieves struck at Limerick Road, Crown Gardens left handful residents without electricity.

Hanging and disconnected cables can be seen lying on the road. Residents are also frustrated by the snail-paced response from the authorities. “We saw them cutting the cables this morning and instinctively we called the police and the hot-line number for Eskom (086 003 7266) however one gets frustrated because you are asked the Meter number and the police report by the hot-line consultant. How can you have the police report at 03:00 when you actually looking at the criminals on the act? It seems the authorities do not care,” explained Mrs Hyman.

Also Mr Hyman said on the telephone book there’s a full page which alerts people about cable theft: Keep your family from risk. Report cable and electricity thieves (Izinyoka) to Eskom, 086 003 7266. “I saw four men stealing the cables but when I phoned the number I was asked Meter number and the police report. Though the police came there was nothing they could do as the thieves were already gone, leaving cables lying on the road,” he said.

Hloni Motloung from City Power advises that residents should be on lookout for suspicious construction vehicles working on the electrical network whether marked or unmarked and report them to Control Room at the following numbers 24hrs a day: 011 490 7911, 011 490 7900, 011490 7553 or toll free number 0800 003 251.

Residents should also report trolley pushers to the above-mentioned numbers should they suspect them of cable theft.