On 12 February 2021, at approximately 08:55, a member from SAPS Addo was on foot patrol to visit the local Post Office when he noticed 4 males standing around a bakkie. When the males saw him they all started to run. He then went to the vehicle and noticed 4 – 50Kg bags that contained something inside. He opened the bags and found pieces of copper wire that were already cut and removed from their casings.
The neighbouring stations were checked to establish whether there were any cases of copper theft opened, and a response was received from Kirkwood SAPS, as two farmers had reported that Eskom cables were stolen from their farms. Eskom was also contacted and the cables were identified as belonging to Eskom.
The value of the cables and the damaged caused is estimated to over R200 000-00.
The Acting District Commissioner for the Sarah Baartman District commended the vigilance of the member and added, “The community need to be mindful of the fact that there are fatal risks involved when cables are stolen. In the past, people have been electrocuted while removing live cables. The destroying of these cables can also be a criminal offence, damage of essential infrastructure,” he added.
In terms of the criminal procedure act.
Offence relating to essential infrastructure 3. Any person who unlawfully and intentionally— (a) tampers with, damages or destroys essential infrastructure; or (b) colludes with or assists another person in the commission, performance or carrying out of an activity referred to in paragraph (a), and who knows or ought reasonably to have known that it is essential infrastructure, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a period of imprisonment not exceeding 30 years.
