The rampant criminality is exacerbating localised power cuts and the implementation of load-shedding, says Eskom.
Rampant criminality is exacerbating localised power cuts and the implementation of loadshedding, says Eskom. Stock photo.Fourteen suspects, including a scrap metal dealer and security personnel, were arrested when a team comprising police, the Hawks and Eskom investigators swooped on an alleged cable theft syndicate in Mpumalanga this week.
An intense investigation was opened when, over the past week, the electricity utility was hit by a spate of theft and vandalism on the 400KV Vulcan Transmission line in the region.“The repeated crime incidents contributed to Eskom having to declare a ‘major incident’ as a result of the extensive damage, loss of supply to thousands of customers and increased safety risks," Eskom said.
“Further investigations revealed that some security personnel deployed to protect the Eskom line were also involved with the syndicate,” said the utility.Eskom's head of security, Adv Karen Pillay, said: “Cable theft continuously affects business operations and hampers the provision of basic essential services to industry and to communities.”
“Such levels of criminality undermine the ability of the state-owned companies to deliver the much-needed services such as electricity, rail, communications and other critical infrastructure.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'We pay the price:' Scrap dealer among 14 bust for cable theft from EskomThe rampant criminality is exacerbating localised power cuts and the implementation of load-shedding, says Eskom.
Read more »
'We pay the price:' Scrap dealer among 14 bust for cable theft from EskomThe rampant criminality is exacerbating localised power cuts and the implementation of load-shedding, says Eskom.
Read more »
Scrap metal dealer arrested in third recent copper bustPolice arrested a scrap metal dealer and confiscated 120kg of copper at his premises in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape on Monday.
Read more »
Eskom and Hawks nail cable thievesFollowing an investigation into several theft and vandalism incidents on its infrastructure in Mpumalanga, Eskom and the Hawks arrested 14 people suspected to be involved.
Read more »
Eskom guzzling enough diesel to fill 200,000 cars per dayEskom is using around 9 million litres of diesel per day to power its open-cycle gas turbines to fend off higher stages of load-shedding. It is costing tens of millions of rand every hour.
Read more »
Deeper power cuts needed to replenish emergency reserves, Eskom saysCountry could face cuts of as much as 10,000MW if all reserves were depleted, COO Jan Oberholzer says
Read more »