Five people were arrested this week in connection with the theft and illegal sale of three brand new Eskom transformers in Randfontein on the West Rand, the parastatal said on Friday.
“Three of the suspects are Eskom employees and their arrest is a clear indication of Eskom’s resolve to eradicate electricity theft, both within and outside the utility,” it said in a statement.
The arrests, on Tuesday, were the result of collaborative investigations between Eskom, the SA Police Service, the Hawks, and other law enforcement agencies to clamp down on criminals stealing electricity cables and other steel components, following tip-offs received from members of community.
The stolen 100kVA transformers were valued at about R200,000. Further investigations were in progress.
“Eskom urges all South Africans to support Operation Khanyisa, a national partnership aimed at fighting electricity theft, by reporting electricity theft to the Crime Line by sending anonymous tip-offs via SMS to 32211 (R1/SMS),” Eskom said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
