BY PHUMLANI SAUL
SINCE the beginning of the continuous load shedding, many residents have been left living in the dark for weeks.
Most areas in Kariega and Nelson Mandela Municipality are also not spared as they are battling with cable theft and electricity infrastructure damages.
This has left the areas without electricity and the municipality is under pressure to restore power due to lack of manpower and resources.
The municipality reportedly loses over R10 million every year due to this.The municipality’s by-law enforcement officers have been out in full force with the help of residents through tip offs to put an end to cable theft
They have, since the Easter weekend, until Monday, 10 April arrested five izinyoka in different areas.
Some of the izinyoka were found in possession of the cables while others were caught in the act.
Municipal spokesman, Mthubanzi Mnike, said two of the suspects who were operating from a property along Cape Road behind a fuel station between Cuyler garage and Traffic department were caught with a bulk of skinned cables.
Mnike said they appreciate the cooperation by community members in the fight against cable theft.
“We are hard at work in effort to root out cable theft but we need the assistance of community members as municipal community services cannot be everywhere at the same time,” he said.
On the other hand, police spokesperson, Colonel Gerda Swarts, said suspects were arrested for tampering with essential infrastructure and will appear before different magistrate courts soon.
A resident who didn’t want to be named said they will continue assisting the municipality with tip offs as they can’t afford to stay in the dark due to izinyoka.
“Izinyoka should be grateful that they are arrested by officials and not community members as we won’t show mercy because they are costing us a lot,” said the resident.
Others called for scrap metal workshops that buy electricity cables from izinyoka to be punished once they are found.
Daily Kasi News 