Dan Fuphe
Dan Fuphe
A Mozambican man accused of cable theft in Chris Hani Extension 3 in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, was arrested on Friday.
On Friday morning Sowetan was informed that the area was tense after the theft of cables from at least seven electric poles the previous night.
A local resident, Santos Mhlanga, said the theft had left many people frustrated and angry, especially since it came barely a month after the power supply was installed by Eskom.
"On Thursday night when the lights started flickering, we dismissed it as part of load shedding by Eskom. We were shocked the next morning to learn that 26 shacks were in total darkness because of cable theft," Mhlanga said.
Earlier the atmosphere was tense as some residents vowed to hunt down those responsible for the inconvenience.
Ward councillor Nelta Badela, accompanied by Eskom's Veronica Mynard and councillor Victor Chiloane, visited the area to assess the situation and to assure locals that the cables would be replaced.
But on Friday the hunt for the perpetrators ended when children discovered two rolls of cable under a derelict bakkie in a shack.
Residents gathered outside the alleged suspect's shack, baying for his blood.
He was saved by the speedy arrival of the police.
When the suspect was bundled into the police van he claimed he was innocent and said the man responsible for the cable theft was someone known only as "Elvis".
Cable theft suspect arrested
Dan Fuphe
Dan Fuphe
A Mozambican man accused of cable theft in Chris Hani Extension 3 in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, was arrested on Friday.
On Friday morning Sowetan was informed that the area was tense after the theft of cables from at least seven electric poles the previous night.
A local resident, Santos Mhlanga, said the theft had left many people frustrated and angry, especially since it came barely a month after the power supply was installed by Eskom.
"On Thursday night when the lights started flickering, we dismissed it as part of load shedding by Eskom. We were shocked the next morning to learn that 26 shacks were in total darkness because of cable theft," Mhlanga said.
Earlier the atmosphere was tense as some residents vowed to hunt down those responsible for the inconvenience.
Ward councillor Nelta Badela, accompanied by Eskom's Veronica Mynard and councillor Victor Chiloane, visited the area to assess the situation and to assure locals that the cables would be replaced.
But on Friday the hunt for the perpetrators ended when children discovered two rolls of cable under a derelict bakkie in a shack.
Residents gathered outside the alleged suspect's shack, baying for his blood.
He was saved by the speedy arrival of the police.
When the suspect was bundled into the police van he claimed he was innocent and said the man responsible for the cable theft was someone known only as "Elvis".
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