Eskom released a report on its collaborative project with South African police, confirming that at least eight suspects were arrested for theft and vandalism.
Eskom confirms suspects killed trying to steal infrastructure
The national power supplier has, in recent months, been addressing the scourge of copper cable theft and infrastructure vandalism, and in the months of October and November, at least 10 suspects were caught in the act.
Working with police and community leaders across Gauteng, the collaborative project yielded the arrest of eight suspects who face theft and vandalism charges.
“Sadly, two suspects lost their lives due to electrocution as they tampered with the electricity equipment in separate incidents,” Eskom confirmed.
The power utility explained that central to its inability to keep a stable grid is rampant electricity-related crime which includes, “fraud, stealing of electricity, theft and vandalism of equipment, unpaid bills and buying electricity from ghost vendors.”
“Copper theft costs the economy between R5 and 7 billion a year, and Eskom spends about R2 billion a year replacing stolen cables,” the state-owned electricity supplier added.
Power utility flags Gauteng as cable theft ‘hotspot’
Eskom has since recognised Gauteng as a hotspot for cable theft and vowed to tighten security in areas of high vandalism activity.
The utility’s health, safety and security manager Kith Maitisa urged communities to get involved with reporting illegal activity which, in the end, “leads to prolonged power outages and compromises on the quality of supply.”
“We are investigating and implementing alternative measures that will assist us to prevent the theft and vandalism of our equipment. We also would like to thank communities that report such acts to Eskom and to the SAPS. With the collaboration with the law enforcement agencies, we will ensure that these criminals are arrested and brought to book,” Maitisa said.