Three arrests made for tampering with City Power’s infrastructure

During two incidents within a week, cable thieves were arrested for tampering with City Power infrastructure.

SCP Security’s Clive Maher said of the one incident, “A passer-by saw sparks coming out of a trench near a traffic light. He called our control room and our vehicles were dispatched. Our reaction officer apprehended them, one of them had been badly shocked by the electrical current.”

Sophiatown police and an ambulance were immediately called. “The man who was shocked needed assistance from paramedics.”

City Power’s risk division was contacted, and the ward councillor Nicolene Jonker arrived to assist and observe.

“The suspects could not be detained by police due to the medical needs of the one man. They were transported by ambulance under police guard. They were formally arrested as soon as they were discharged.”

In a second case, a suspect was caught by SCP Security inside a substation on Panorama Drive in Northcliff. “The suspect had broken into the substation and was stealing old parts discarded by City Power technicians. He was arrested and taken away by Fairland police.”

The Northcliff Melville Times was unable to secure a comment from police on these matters at individual station levels because they are no longer allowed to communicate with the press. Sophiatown Police Station spokesperson Captain TJ de Bruyn said, “I wish I could assist you but I am not allowed to, unfortunately. I am sorry.”

Attempts were made to obtain comment on this story from Captain Jeff Phoro, the Gauteng district police communications spokesperson. He is now the person journalists need to contact in order to obtain comments for stories in order to afford the police right of reply. Questions were sent via email and WhatsApp over several days but no response was provided, despite the queries being acknowledged.

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