Chiawelo Ward 11 environment manager and street light installation project manager Mandla Mashele believes that unity and team work can help stop the increasing number of cable theft in the community.
So far, according to Mashele since the project was finished late last year, in one street more than five street lights are no longer working due to cables being stolen.
“The situation is so bad and costing the government lots of money because instead of going to improve other areas we are stuck in one place trying to replace the stolen cables.
“Getting the cables being re-installed does cost a lot of money because the new cables are expensive and some of them takes time to be bought and delivered and this slows down our service delivering plans,” he said.
Mashele said that the community has an important role to play in order to fight and win over cable theft.
“The people who are making a living from stealing these cables are known in the society.
“Are people we live, eat and sleep with, so if people will keep information which can lead to de prosecution of such people to themselves then they are doing injustice and they are robbing themselves from benefits of new developments in their areas.” he said.
Mashele said: “We need people to be brave and come forward with information that can help and lead to prosecution of such individuals so that cable theft can be stopped completely in Soweto.”
