Durban - A man was found hanging above a railway line in Durban last week after allegedly trying to steal copper.
According to unverified social media posts, the man was identified as Lungisani Sithole, 24, and was alleged to be a foreign national.
The social media posts said the man was trying to steal overhead cables near the uMgeni train station. It was alleged that he was found hanging from a railway pylon after being electrocuted by 3 000 DC power.
Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal Zama Nomnganga said the incident happened in the middle of last week.
“He was a thief,” Nomnganga said of the man. “People who go there are people who work there.”
Nomnganga said the theft of cables was decreasing and not as prevalent as before because thieves had stolen almost everything.
“There’s nothing left to steal,” he said. “It’s copper, so it’s worth millions. Others now steal from transmissions.”
“That’s why you find that some of them are dying.”
He said that due to the theft and vandalism of the Prasa infrastructure, there was nothing left.
Nomnganga said they had security patrolling but the criminals would watch, and when security moved to another area, they would steal.
“We try to educate people, especially those playing at railway lines,” he said.
Daily News