MMC Moerane praised the community for protecting the infrastructure
Last week the suspects handed eight years of direct imprisonment for the crime.
MMC for Environment Infrastructure Services Department councillor Mpho Moerane has welcomed the eight-year prison sentence handed over to a copper cable thief in Turffontein.
The suspect was arrested in April 2020 by the community who found him in possession of electrical copper cables while trying to steal more.
He was arrested and charged with tampering with the infrastructure and cable theft.
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Last week the suspect was handed a sentence of eight years of direct imprisonment for the crime.
Moerane praised the community for protecting the infrastructure against vandals and assisting in the arrest of the thief.
“We welcome the stiff sentencing handed to this thief which we believe fits the crime committed. The problem of vandalism and theft of copper cables is a serious one which disrupts normal life and economic activity in the City,” said Moerane.
City Power loses at least R2-billion in non-technical losses, which includes cable theft. Towards the end of 2020 there was an increase in outages mostly caused by cable theft in the City.
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Moerane urged the residents to take ownership of the infrastructure and report any vandalism and theft of copper cables to City Power security or the SAPS.
“The residents of Turffontein took matters into their own hands and ensured this thief does not succeed in his evil ways. We commend them for protecting the infrastructure.
“We urge Joburg residents to report vandalism and theft of the infrastructure. More so because when this infrastructure is vandalised, the inconvenience is felt by the same community,” added Moerane.
