This emanates from the tip-off to ward 20 councillor, Clr Michelle Clarke.
Clr Clarke got a tip-off from a member of the public that there was a stolen cable that was kept at the company site at Oriel Park.
On Thursday, July 4, Clr Clarke and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officers went to the site and the men were arrested.
The company is contracted by EMM to upgrade several roads in ward 20, as well as a major stormwater protection project, currently in its third phase, in the Oriel stream.
“We cannot be spending millions on projects when the contractors’ employees become the alleged perpetrators of crime. We have, on so many occasions, discussed the screening of contractors as well as their employees when being appointed by council to do large projects,” she said.
Clr Clarke thanked Metro Police for its quick response.
“I would personally like to commend Senior Superintendent Deon Singh and his team for this well-executed operation. From the time I received the tip-off and contacted Supt Singh, it took only 90 minutes for his team to investigate the site and to make the arrests,” she said.
Clr Clarke also thanked the person who gave her the tip-off.
“I am enormously appreciative of the community-mindedness of ordinary people who report crime,” Clr Clarke said.
EMM’s spokesperson, Mr Samuel Modiba, said that the cable was tested and confirmed to be “dead” by engineers.
He added that these cables were supposed to have been removed by Eskom.
“Eskom personnel were supposed to have removed these cables from site after their engineers discovered that they were dead cables and were still laying around. Furthermore the cables were supposed to have been disposed of in accordance with Eskom procedures. This process has not taken place,” he said.
Bedfordview SAPS said the two suspects will appear in court on August 1.
He added that the metro is investigating if the company was aware that its employees were keeping the stolen items on its property.
“So far preliminary investigations indicate that the contractor in question wasn’t aware. However, EMM will take appropriate action and/or steps once facts reveal that the contractor in question was at fault,” Mr Modiba said.
He added that the two employees have been served with notices to attend their company disciplinary hearing .
