Despite cable theft (because of its copper content) causing one of the biggest economic harms to our country for many years, authorities seem to be turning a blind eye to this matter and have yet to introduce strict laws concerning the buying and selling of copper.
Locally, residents and businesses have often complained about the frequent disruption to electricity, due to cable theft and have called on the police to beef up patrols in the area.
In the latest incident of cable theft, that affected many homes in Erasmia, last week, Amina Banda, a resident at the corner of Lenchen and Verster Street in Erasmia, told the Laudium Sun, “I have been struggling with this issue for months now. I can’t sleep, as I’m in fear because of these nyaope thieves who roam around in front of my house, as if there is no curfew. This is an ongoing thing. Almost every night for the past few weeks they are roaming around. The most recent was on Thursday [July 01]. They hide behind an abandoned building, surrounded by bushes, just across from my house and only come out at around 12am – midnight to dig out the cables on the street. It is right in front of my house. They have stolen the transformer and they continue stealing electrical cables. These guys dig it out from under the ground, so this entire area is now full of pits that they leave behind after stealing the cables. As soon as these thieves see the security patrols driving past, they hide in the bush, but after the patrol passes and goes to another street, they come out of the bushes again. I have called the Erasmia police and security companies in our area many times, but shockingly nothing has been done. The thieves continue doing as they please, and they are not even scared. We don’t feel safe in our own house anymore, but the police fail to act on this. The disruption of electricity supply is causing a huge inconvenience to everyone and is an added security threat to us, especially at night”.
Another Erasmia resident, Moosa Lakkis, of Verster Street said, “These guys live or hide at that abandoned building and in the bushes. They watch every move of the residents and security patrols. They come out at night and dig up the cables here. When we call the police, they run back into the bush and hide behind a white wall there. They take advantage of the darkness on our street, as the street lights are out most of the time. When we as residents went together to check out that abandoned building, we found a lot of stolen items such as car batteries and cellphones, but the nyaopes were not there. The police and security guys need to up their game, seriously. Our police system is really failing us.”
Councilor Mahomed Essop said, “The community must report stolen items to the police, and monitor if there are police patrols in the area, as this will affect the council’s work in developing the area. I have sent the report of street lights not working to the relevant department.”
Constable Tumisang Moloto, of the Erasmia Police said, “A report was sent to us and we have dispatched police to the area to check what is happening. We have increased police patrols in that particular area, as there have been many complaints. Unfortunately, no one has opened a case, so that we can follow it up.”
*To report cable theft and vandalism, contact Eskom Crime Line 0800 11 27 22 – Telkom’s Crime hotline on 0800 124 000 – City of Tshwane Cable theft hotline: 012 358 7095.
