Johannesburg: City Power security officers arrested for vandalism and cable theft
Nine security officers contracted by City Power are among 15 that were arrested for cable theft and vandalism.
City Power says it is deeply concerned that nine security officers it contracted were among 15 arrested for destructive acts of tampering with essential infrastructure.
City Power embarked on an intelligence operation to combat cable theft and vandalism.
CITY POWER SECURITY OFFICERS ARRESTED FOR CABLE THEFT
On Saturday, City Power said these nine security officers are among some of the internal collaborators the utility has been tracking and vowed to bring down in the fight against destructive acts of tampering with essential infrastructure.
This group of suspects was nabbed between Friday and Saturday morning during a multipronged joint operation between the entity’s Security Risk Management and law enforcement agencies led by the SAPS Essential Infrastructure Task Team.
The first three suspects were caught at a scrap metal dealership in the Joburg CBD.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said they followed leads on more suspects, and later in the evening, three more men were arrested in the inner city along the underground tunnels.
He said this was particularly worrying given the recent catastrophic destruction in Braamfontein due to theft and vandalism in these tunnels.
Mangena said in Reuven at City Power Head Offices, two security guards were arrested after the cable was found and confiscated from a scrap metal dealer in the inner city. It was found in their car, ready to be removed from the salvage yard. Seven other guards were also captured during the intelligence operation.
CEO COMMENDS POLICE
City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava said they find the involvement of contracted security officers particularly worrying because they are the people who have been entrusted with the duty of safeguarding infrastructure.
Mashava said these arrests testify to the municipal utility’s unwavering resolve to deal with theft and vandalism, whether perpetrated by outsiders or those from within.
“We strongly condemn this conduct and assure the public that even those implicated will not be spared. We have never ruled out the involvement of our contractors and staff in the theft and vandalism problem.
“This involvement of internal staff undermines efforts to combat the scourge, and that’s why City Power has tightened its internal controls and involved law enforcement agencies to help root out these destructive elements,” she added.