Johannesburg – City Power has revealed several arrests for cable theft and infrastructure damage have occurred in recent months, which led to two convicted criminals being each handed 10-year prison sentences for cable theft.
The two men, a 29-year-old Mozambican national and a 36-year-old South African were arrested on 23 November 2023 for tampering and possession of stolen goods.
City Power said the cable thieves were found guilty on 26 March 2024.
They were each slapped with a decade behind bars.
City Power on Monday said the convictions and sentencing came as the entity continues to intensify efforts to root out the scourge of cable theft and vandalism.
“In the past two weeks, 17 people were arrested for various charges including theft, tampering, and possession of stolen electricity property,” said City Power in a statement.
On 22 March 2024, the community of Florida apprehended a suspect who had stolen cables and handed him over to security officials.
The officers took the suspect to the police station, where he was charged.
In Devland a suspect was arrested after he was found in possession of infrastructure-damaging equipment (hacksaw, side cutter & knife).
He was charged with tampering on 28 March 2024, and he made a court appearance the following day.
On Friday, 5 April 2024, five people were apprehended – two women from the Innercity and three men from Orlando.
“The two female suspects were nabbed in Hilbrow for tampering with essential infrastructure and bribery of R2 000,” City Power Spokesperson, Isaac Mangena said.
“This came following a disconnection operation that was undertaken in the area where a customer owing close to R17 million in unpaid electricity bills was cut off.”
Mangena said the operation, which was led by the City Power Security Risk Management along with law enforcement agencies, led to the arrest of the two women who are allegedly involved in the illegal reconnection of the power supplies.
“These arrests exemplify the seriousness of the organisation in fighting meter tampering,” said Mangena.
A few weeks ago, City Power issued a warning against those involved in soliciting bribes in exchange for meter bypassing.
“As a result, two City Power contractors were arrested on 3 April 2024 for their alleged involvement in unlawful acts of disconnecting and connecting customers’ meter boxes in exchange for payment,” said Mangena.
“We reiterate that warning to customers as well and urge them to desist from giving gratuity to contractors, City Power employees or any other individual for tampering with our meters.”
Mangena warned that should customers be found to be involved in the act of tampering, severe penalties would be imposed along with power supply disconnection.
Detailing more arrests, Mangena said three suspects were arrested in Orlando were caught while digging out cables.
“Before the suspects were handcuffed, they opened fire and some managed to flee from the scene,” he said.
Police are pursuing them.
On 2 April 2024, three Zimbabweans and a South African were arrested for tampering with essential infrastructure after they were caught while busy digging in Mondeor.
Security officers spotted the four during their patrol in the area.
In Alexandra, a Zimbabwean was caught carrying a black plastic bag, containing skinned copper cables and other metals.
He was charged and made a court appearance, where his bail application was denied.
On 4 April 2024, one suspect was found with a stolen cable.
He was charged with tampering and appeared in court on 5 April 2024.
These arrests are a testament to the effectiveness of the utility’s internal controls that have been put in place, coupled with collaboration with communities and law enforcement agencies.
“City Power commends the involvement of communities in these recent arrests and warns all those who are involved in the destructive business of cable theft and vandalism of the network that the net is closing in and should they be found wanting, they will face the full might of the law,” said Mangena.
“This warning also goes to City Power employees and those contracted to do work on behalf of the entity.
“The entity will spare no one in its effort to combat the scourge of illegal electricity-related areas.”
