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Fatal shock for cable thief at sub-station

Ntwaagae Seleka

Ntwaagae Seleka

Vaal Rand police are expected to identify a man who was found dead after being apparently electrocuted in Vanderbijlpark on Sunday.

The man, believed to be in his 30s, was electrocuted, allegedly while trying to steal electric cables.

Police spokesman Captain Veli Mcera said the man's partially burnt body was found inside an electric sub-station in Vanderbijlpark.

"The man was trying to steal electric copper cables and was electrocuted," said Mcera.

He said police found equipment used to cut cables on the dead man.

"He entered the sub-station by jumping over the fence. We suspect that he was not alone," said Mcera.

The man climbed higher to cut cables when he was electrocuted.

He was found half-naked with only the collar of his T-shirt around his neck. He was wearing a pair of jeans and shoes.

Mcera said they had received reports that the man was once arrested for a similar offence.

"We don't know who he is. We will only know his identity after his fingerprints have been verified," said Mcera.

He said they were notified about the incident by a man who called the police about a body lying in a sub-station.

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