City Power warns 'net closing in' on internal staff involved in vandalism

JOHANNESBURG - A crackdown on cable theft and vandalism of power infrastructure has seen the arrests of 15 people in Johannesburg this past week.

City Power said the arrests were part of an intelligence operation involving the entity's security risk management and law enforcement agencies.

Some of the suspected cable thieves were caught red-handed at a scrap metal dealership in the Joburg CBD, while others were arrested along underground tunnels in the inner city.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said some of the damage to the city’s key infrastructure appears to have been an inside job, with nine security guards among those arrested.

“City Power would like to once again warn internal staff that the net is closing in on everyone who's involved in the destructive business of vandalism. This warning goes to City Power employees and those contracted to do work on behalf of the entity.

“The entity will spare no attempt in making sure that everyone arrested, faces the full might of the law. We commend the collaborative work with the SAPS [South African Police Service], JMPD [Johannesburg Metro Police Department], community policing forums and private security in different parts of Johannesburg in dealing with cable theft and vandalism.”