R’fontein cables under attack
'We are still trying to figure out how they do it without getting seriously hurt'
Randfontein has been plagued with cable theft for the past two weeks and residents are furious.
On Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 December the areas of Homelake and Greenhills became the latest victims with Ewart Road, Elaine Avenue and Lelie Street having had their cables cut all at once and subsequently sat without electricity.
On Thursday the 4th, cables were cut on Granaat Avenue in Greenhills and residents from Falcon Street felt the brunt thereof.
Resident Ansie Nortje is furious about the cable theft and states that besides the cable theft, the street lights on Falcon Street – where she lives – have not been working for six weeks.
“I have called the municipality almost every day to resolve the matter and the last few times they were very rude. I’m sick and tired of this happening. We are supposed to work together and we usually do but this time I have had enough,” Nortje said.
She also states that during the time that her street lights have been out, a man was in her yard and would have broken in if it wasn’t for their dogs.
According to Tlhogi Legote, electrician for the Randfontein Local Municipality, “Cable theft happens almost every day. They usually cut the cables late at night and early in the morning.”
With regards to the street lights, Legote explained to Nortje that street lights are also targeted for cable theft. “They have copper conductors and these people steel copper. What needs to be done is to replace copper with aluminium then they have nothing to go an sell,” says Legote.
“We are still trying to figure out how they know where to cut without seriously hurting themselves because this is a very dangerous job. These guys are smart,” says Tumi Sealogo.
