The Executive Mayor of the Rustenburg Local Municipality, Sheila Mabale-Huma, has condemned copper cable theft and described it as a major contributing factor to persisting power cuts in Rustenburg.
This follows the arrest of a municipal employee in the Electrical Department along with other foreigners for alleged vandalism and electric cables theft in Tsitsing, near Rustenburg, estimated to be around R800 000.
In an exclusive interview with YOU FM, Mabale-Huma confirmed that the municipality has opened a case with the police.
“We have opened a case with the police and investigations will continue.
We want to ascertain if the employee was working only with his external accomplices or if other municipal workers were involved,” remarked Mabale-Huma.
The mayor also emphasized that the interruption of electricity supply is an inconvenience to healthcare, businesses, and day-to-day lives of residents.
She highlighted that while the power cuts are sometimes caused by electric faults, the leading cause of their occurrence is linked with criminality.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance at the municipality, has welcomed the arrests and called for decisive action to be taken against the suspects.
