Working streetlights help combat ongoing cable theft
There were four cable theft incidents in the past two weeks at the Rooihuiskraal Road bridge over the N14 as criminals targeted copper cables.
Some traffic lights have been repaired on Rooihuiskraal Road, where thieves attempted to steal cables in four incidents over the last two weeks.
Since July 10, cable thieves have trenched along the road in an attempt to steal copper cables along the bridge over the N14.
Ward 64 councillor Alta de Kock said that functioning streetlights would help to combat the problems in the area.
“[The cable theft] has happened in four places along the bridge, every time it is a different place,” explained De Kock.
“I presume they have a map of where the cables are supposed to be.”
She said fortunately, new aluminium cable had already been installed, but the thieves cut the cable to see if there was copper inside.
“After the first time, the thieves still tried to find copper in the cables.
“We have even caught them on video. When someone from the CPF stopped there, they escaped down the side of the embankment to hide,” she said.
“They are not even scared of anybody,” she added.
De Kock said she spoke to the director of the electricity department, which fixed the lights on the bridge.
“They have been working on streetlights in The Reeds and Rooihuiskraal. There are a few streets that have already reported that their lights were fixed.”
She said the department’s report showed seven of the lights were badly vandalised, while work was ongoing to address the vandalised streetlights in the area.
On July 20, the CPF Wierdabrug Sector 2 in Rooihuiskraal and The Reeds thwarted suspected cable theft operations and began the work of covering the trenches.
Following up on a report on the community security group, Sector 2 CPF members responded to the site where suspected preparations for cable theft were underway.
The CPF’s Mynhardt Le Roux explained they reached out to the ward councillor, who confirmed the trenching was not the work of the metro.
“She requested for a COT team to go fill up before any theft or damages could occur,” said Le Roux.
At just after 20:00, volunteers arrived at the site at the Rooihuiskraal Road bridge, set up lights and traffic cones for safety, and got to work filling the hole.
By the end of the work, Le Roux said that a group of 12 CPF volunteers led by Tinus Marais, the sector’s former chairperson, came together to work in the bitter cold.
“The volunteers finished at about 21:25 with their efforts and stood down from the scene quite tired and freezing from the cold, but satisfied that they did what was possible under the circumstances,” Le Roux told Rekord.
Metro teams attended to the site early the next morning and completed the repairs.
Le Roux said it was important to the CPF, as the members see this type of assistance to their own families and community as extremely important.
“[It] helps make a positive difference in uplifting our area in general and to ensure the best possible safe environment when and where possible.”
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