Three suspected cable thieves paid the price when they were electrocuted, apparently during the act of committing crime. The unidentified men are undergoing treatment for severe burn wounds at Bloemfontein’s Pelonomi Hospital.
They are suspected of trying to cut copper cables at one of the high voltage power transformers at the abandoned multistorey Bloemfontein Taxi Rank in the city’s CBD on 15 October.
Lele Mamatu, Centlec spokesperson, said due to the transformer exploding each of the men sustained severe burn wounds on their face, neck, head, chest, arms, hands and stomach.
He said the police, emergency medical services (EMS) and Centlec security officers found the men at the scene, in critical condition.
They had accessed the transformer from the spruit, according to an eyewitness.
“The authorities were alerted of an explosion at one of the transformers in the Bloemfontein CBD, and on arrival they found the electrocuted suspects. The cables were still live at this transformer syndicates repeatedly vandalise to strip to harvest copper,” said Mamatu.
He said a case of malicious damage to infrastructure had been opened at the Parkweg Police Station for further investigation, in order to bring the culprits to book for vandalising essential infrastructure.
“We strongly warn the community of Mangaung that tampering with electrical infrastructure is not only illegal but dangerous, and can also lead to loss of life, as well as dire consequences,” said Mamatu.
The organised network of copper syndicates capitalise on rolling blackouts due to prolonged load shedding, and vandalise infrastructure with the sole purpose of harvesting copper cables to sell at scrap dealers.
Centlec laments the negative impact of copper theft and vandalism of infrastructure. According to the entity, during June this year, the losses amounted to R1,2 million; while it was about R1,87 million for the period of April 2019 to March 2022.
