Thieves steal power cables during lockdown

City Deep – City Power security personnel recently caught six people digging up copper cables at City Deep Extension 2, near the M1.

The incident occurred on the third day of the Covid-19 lockdown.

City Power general manager for security, Sergeant A Thela, said they thought the national lockdown would reduce theft and vandalism of the electricity network infrastructure. “But thieves respect no rules. For that reason, our security response plans for the lockdown were elevated to ensure protection of our network infrastructure. The arrests bear testimony to the resilience of our security resolve in the face of the Covid-19 national disaster,” Thela said.

City Power said the suspects, aged between 27 and 38, were found in possession of core copper cables.

They were taken to the Jeppe police station, where a case of damage and theft of essential infrastructure was opened.