This week’s thwarted attempted theft of a transformer at the Claudius Substation in Laudium involving a municipal employee, potentially saved the City of Tshwane approximately R35 million.
ANC regional secretary in Tshwane, George Matjila, said the financial loss of millions of rands to the City could have severely impacted municipal resources and the services provided to residents.
“In light of these events, the ANC Greater Tshwane Region calls upon law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident. It is imperative to uncover not only the intended destination of the stolen transformer but also to identify any potential buyers involved in this criminal operation,” he said.
He praised the swift action taken by the Laudium community to foil a criminal operation.
“We commend the community for their vigilance and urge all residents to remain alert and proactive in safeguarding our public infrastructure,” he said.
Matjila expressed concern that one of the eleven individuals apprehended was a municipal employee from the utilities department, specifically within the electricity unit.
Municipal spokesperson Selby Bokaba said a brazen attempted theft of transformers by an alleged cable theft syndicate involving a Tshwane employee was foiled by community members.
“The vigilant community members noticed an unusual activity at the substation, with an employee from Energy & Electricity Department and his associates who had arrived at the substation in a fleet of marked and unmarked trucks, with an assortment of equipment, including an expensive crane,” he said.
Bokaba said the syndicate had removed two MVA transformers from the plinth with the other one already dismantled, awaiting to be loaded onto a flat-bed truck.
“What triggered the curiosity of the community was that the city had not issued any notice of maintenance due to take place at the substation, and there was power supply in the area.
The community members contacted the Cable Theft Unit of TMPD who, together with SAPS members, swiftly responded and arrested a few suspects, including a Tshwane employee. Other suspects managed to flee the scene,” he explained.
The city, he said, has lost billions of rand in the recent past due to theft and vandalism of infrastructure by an obviously highly organised syndicate.
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya has vowed to oppose bail for the city official arrested in connection with the attempted infrastructure heist.
Pretoria News