POLOKWANE – Over the years, the municipality has spent thousands of rand to replace stolen electricity cables. Polokwane Municipality Spokesperson, Disree Manyane, could not confirm the exact figures during a recent interview.
She said the municipality is aware of the scourge that has hit the community who are terrorised by thieves who steal their property while they are deeply asleep.
The municipality has been hit by a spate of cable theft incidents in recent times, resulting in severe difficulties to provide an effective electricity service to the people.
Over the festive season Seshego residents were plagued by the loss of water meters which were allegedly stolen in the wee hours of the morning.
At one household in Zone 2 the family had to spend the whole day without water because their meter was cut off by unknown thieves.
“They entered the yard freely as we do not have a gate. What is obvious is that they first stopped the water supply before using a hacksaw to cut off the device.
“They were so smart during their nefarious activities, we did not hear even the slightest noise, nor the sound of the hacksaw. No water was leaked.
“We were surprised when we woke up late in the morning to find the meter stolen. This problem is everywhere,” said Mmatau Manamela.
The hardest hit areas include Ster Park, Luthuli Park, Blood River, Makgofe and the nearby RDP settlements on the periphery of Seshego township. Manyane says the stealing of water meters and electric cables have a negative effect on the service that the municipality provides.
“At this moment we are exploring avenues on how to curb this scourge.
“We are appealing to residents to report these criminal activities to the police without any hesitation.”
Cable thieves, notoriously known as “izinyoka” employ a dangerous modus operandi of setting fire to the live wires before they cut them. Clement Chepape, a victim of cable theft, says the izinyoka steal cables and sell them to scrap metal traders.
“These scumbags operate late at night when everybody is fast asleep. In a split second operation, they cut the cable from the pole and next to the house, and disappear into the pitch dark bushes. We are pleading with the police to keep an eye on them.”
thoko@nmgroup.co.za
