Eskom’s fight against copper theft gains momentum

In Rustenburg in North West, Eskom had been experiencing an increase in cable theft incidents on the Trident Line.

In Rustenburg in North West, Eskom had been experiencing an increase in cable theft incidents on the Trident Line.

Published Sep 18, 2016

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Johannesburg – The crime-fighting efforts by Eskom and electricity theft partners are slowly gaining momentum and bearing fruit, the parastatal said on Sunday.

On Tuesday, at around 11pm, eight alleged thieves started digging the underground cable at the Leeuwkop Correctional Services Centre in Johannesburg, unaware that they were being monitored with the night vision equipment by an Eskom/contractor task team. Two men were nabbed and the other six fled the scene. The suspects were handed over to the Sandton South African Police Service (SAPS) and about 30 metres of core copper cable, two shovels, a knife, and two cellphones were seized, Eskom said in a statement.

In Rustenburg in North West, Eskom had been experiencing an increase in cable theft incidents on the Trident Line. On May 21, three alleged thieves were spotted cutting the jumper wire. One of the suspects was apprehended. He appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on August 22 and pleaded guilty to attempted theft and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, suspended for five years.

Still in North West, Eskom’s national contractor received information of aluminium conductors stored in a storage unit at the Klerksdorp Showgrounds. On inspection, 500kg aluminium conductors and aluminium pots were found. The store owner and two alleged accomplices were arrested. During their trial on August 24 in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court a plea agreement was reached and the first accused was sentenced to a fine of R3 000 or eight months’ imprisonment suspended for five years, while the other two accused had the charges against them withdrawn and would be deported to Mozambique, Eskom said.

“As can be seen from the above, incidents of cable or copper theft remain a serious concern. This is indicative of organised, syndicate-driven criminal activity in the conductor theft environment, which is also experienced by other state-owned enterprises.”

The fight against network equipment theft was being addressed by means of intelligence-driven investigations by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), which encompasses aggressive policing of the scrap metal market for stolen goods.

The courts were also taking this crime seriously and significant sentences were being handed out to perpetrators. A joint industry working group, formed by Eskom, Transnet, Telkom, the SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority, Business Against Crime, and the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci), continued to contribute positively in the fight against this crime, Eskom said.

African News Agency (ANA)

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