A 44-year-old man was found guilty of tampering with essential infrastructure and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment in January.
Spokesperson for the Parkview Police Station, Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said the incident took place on 11 July last year when a security officer who was deployed by City Power, received a call from a resident informing him that someone was busy cutting a cable inside a power substation at the corner of Warbot and Napier roads in Parktown.
“Upon arrival at the scene, the security officers went inside the substation and found a suspect busy cutting a cable. He had already cut one copper cable. The suspect attempted to run away, however, he was apprehended and handed over to the Parkview police,” added Sibeko.
He said Detective Sergeant Zachariah Masindi was allocated the docket for the investigation and managed to secure a conviction using his investigation skills. He presented the evidence in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court who found Andile Ntotho guilty and sentenced him. The accused remains unfit to possess a firearm.
Acting Station Commander at Parkview police Lieutenant Colonel Fatima Gaffoor welcomed the conviction and commended her officers for their hard work.
Gaffoor further acknowledged the partnership between police and security companies within the policing precinct and encouraged the community to come forward with information that may assist with investigations.
She said cable theft had a detrimental effect on the economy of the country and urged residents to report any suspicious behaviour in this regard to Crime Stop on 086 001 0111 or by using the mobile My SAPS app.
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