Five cable thefts were reported this week, leaving at least three households without electricity. On Tuesday, a Grahamstown Telkom worker received a complaint from a resident in Elandskloof, 12km outside Grahamstown, about electricity not working.
Five cable thefts were reported this week, leaving at least three households without electricity. On Tuesday, a Grahamstown Telkom worker received a complaint from a resident in Elandskloof, 12km outside Grahamstown, about electricity not working.
Upon investigation, the worker found that 150m of copper wire and 24m of ground cable worth R10 000 had been cut off. An Eskom cable valued at R2 000 was stolen in Hlalani township on the same day.
On Wednesday, a Vukani resident heard footsteps on his roof at 3am. Upon investigation he found that his electrical cable had been cut.
On the same day, a woman in Eluxolweni location woke up to find that her cables had been cut, leaving two other houses in the area without electricity.
A suspect was also arrested for stealing steel found around graves to sell for scrap metal. Captain Gerrit Swarts of the Grahamstown police said that cables are usually stolen at night and that there has been an increase of theft.
Small pieces of cable which run from electricity boxes to houses are usually stolen and the police suspect that these cables may be taken to Port Elizabeth and East London where they are then sold.
He said the police are currently doing inspections at second hand scrap metal dealers. Engineering News estimates that South Africa loses R5-billion a year due to cable theft.
Swarts said residents should immediately report any suspicious activity to the police. They can also call the toll free cable theft hotline on 080 022 2771.
