A suspect is in police custody after being caught stealing municipal electricity cable in Queendustria, while two others fled the scene around 12pm today. A local business owner witnessed three men digging up the road, exposing the power cable, leading to the arrest. This follows a similar incident in October last year where four suspects were arrested, and the case is ongoing.
EMLM Mayor, Madoda Papiyana, commended the businessman for his vigilance and emphasized the municipality’s zero-tolerance stance on infrastructure theft.
“We are pleased that the police were alerted promptly and that an arrest was made. We are in a daily battle against the theft and vandalism of our electricity infrastructure, and our pursuit does not stop with the individuals caught on the ground,” Papiyana said.
The mayor wants to target the masterminds, buyers, sellers, and entire syndicate profiting from this destruction, stating there’s a thriving black market dismantling government-built infrastructure.
“That entire chain must be broken. Every time a cable is stolen or a transformer vandalised, our residents suffer through power interruptions. This is not just theft, it’s an attack on our community, and we will not tolerate it,” he concluded.
A case has been with the suspect expected to appear in the Komani magistrate court by next week.
Residents can report suspicious activity to the Municipal Control Room on 045 839 2181
