Two suspects arrested after posing as City Power workers
FAIRLAND – The pair were identified by the City Power Risk Control Unit as working for a contractor at the utility.
City Power has welcomed the arrest of two contract workers who were alleged to have intimidated and robbed customers in Fairland.
In a statement, City Power’s Isaac Magena said according to the police, the two gained access to a property in Fairland posing as City Power workers there to check the meters. They are alleged to have intimidated the owner, then stole cellphones, a laptop and car keys and left the scene.
Security and police were called and the suspects were cornered where the stolen property, including a car, were recovered. Further investigation revealed the two were wanted for a series of house robberies across the city. The vehicle recovered was found to have been stolen in a house robbery in Fontainebleau about two weeks ago.
The statement said the two had been positively identified by City Power Risk Control Unit as working for a contractor at the utility.
“We condemn the actions by the two contractors. City Power has taken the decision to blacklist the two and cancel the contract with the company they work for and we do not tolerate any level of criminality, corruption or intimidation of our customers,” said Magena.
Customers were encouraged to report officials who try to solicit bribes from them when they visit their properties to do maintenance, audits and/or meter readings. This could be reported to your local law enforcement or City Power’s security control room.
City Power employees and contractors were there to provide a service and customers should not give in to demands for bribes or payment of their outstanding debt to the employees.
The community was urged to be vigilant and properly check contractor cards to verify the identity of the person before allowing them onto their property. All City Power contractors were expected to be carrying their identification cards with them at all times and each card had an expiration date and a telephone number at the back to verify the credentials.
You can contact their Risk Control Unit on 011 490 7484/7000 or your nearest SAPS if you feel your life is under any threat.
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