GEORGE NEWS - A George scrapyard owner has been arrested after the police and municipal law enforcement officers found 10.9kg of stolen copper cable, stripped from George Municipality’s electrical network, at a yard on Thursday afternoon, 3 September.
The arrest forms part of an intensified crackdown on the illegal trade in infrastructure metals, targeting both the thieves who strip the cable and the scrap dealers who buy it.
George Municipality says cable theft and vandalism have cost ratepayers more than R10m in repairs and replacement of damaged electrical infrastructure.
Community Safety and Mobility Director Lee-Anne Meiring said the message to thieves and scrap dealers was clear.
“The municipality will not tolerate the destruction of critical infrastructure. Cable theft disrupts basic service delivery, leaves residents without power, and diverts millions of rand from essential community services.”
Mayor Browen Johnson welcomed the arrest, saying the municipality’s infrastructure was constantly targeted by criminals who sell the stolen materials to scrap yards.
“Just last week, I was in Borcherds and Protea Park, where we saw the direct impact of cable theft and the damage it causes in our communities,” he said.
“Every time our infrastructure is stolen or damaged, it comes at a cost to our residents. Instead of using our resources to upgrade communities, we are forced to spend millions repairing infrastructure that has been deliberately damaged.”
The suspect is expected to appear in court on charges related to possession of property believed to be essential infrastructure.
Residents can report vandalism, theft or suspicious activity to George Municipality’s Safer City Call Centre on 044 801 6350, 044 801 6310 or 044 801 6389, or via WhatsApp on 082 423 5082.
‘Ons bring jou die nuutste Tuinroete, Hessequa, Karoo nuus’
