File
Fourteen suspects involved in cable theft incidents, including a scrap metal dealer, were arrested in a swoop by a multi-disciplinary team in Mpumalanga.
Eskom spokesperson, Sikonathi Mantshantsha, said a large volume of stolen cables were found during the raid by the team, comprising of the Vosman SAPS, Hawks, and Eskom Investigators, swooped on multiple premises outside the township of Kwa Guqa in Mpumalanga.
He said the stolen cables, comprising of aluminium and copper, were found stored on several of the premises.
"A criminal case has been opened against the perpetrators, including the scrap dealer and some of the security personnel, and more arrests are likely to follow," he said.
Mantshantsha said in the past week, Eskom experienced several theft and vandalism incidents on the 400kV Vulcan Transmission line in the region.
"The repeated crime incidents contributed to Eskom having to declare a 'major incident', as a result of the extensive damage, loss of supply to thousands of customers, and increased safety risks," he said.
"Towers on the line were twisted and severely damaged and the roads in the region were also blocked with the fallen electrical lines, which also puts lives in danger.
Eskom's head of security, Advocate Karen Pillay said, "cable theft continuously affects business operations and hampers the provision of basic essential services to industry and to communities."
"Between the various State-owned companies, namely Eskom, Transnet, PRASA and Telkom combined, the direct losses incurred culminate to more than R7 billion a year," she added.
Pillay said the knock-on loss to the economy is estimated at R187 billion.
