The EThekwini Municipality’s Electricity and Energy Directorate has welcomed a landmark conviction in a major electricity cable theft case, marking a decisive victory in the city’s fight against infrastructure crime.
This follows the sentencing of three suspects who were convicted for damaging critical electricity infrastructure and possessing stolen municipal property valued at approximately R1 million.
The convictions stem from a 2022 incident when members of the Umkhomazi South African Police Service (SAPS) acted on intelligence regarding electricity cables being stripped and burnt at a homestead near the Umkhomazi Police Station.
Investigators from eThekwini Municipality's Electricity and Energy Directorate later confirmed that the recovered cables belonged to the municipality, leading to the arrest of three suspects.
The matter was investigated through a joint effort between SAPS and the municipality's Infrastructure Theft Division before being successfully prosecuted in the Scottburgh Magistrate's Court.
The court found all three accused guilty of damaging essential infrastructure and possessing stolen municipal property.
The first accused, a 37-year-old subcontractor who was working for the municipality at the time of the offence, was sentenced to 15 years' direct imprisonment.
The second accused, aged 26, was sentenced to three years' direct imprisonment, while the third accused, a 63-year-old woman, received five years' direct imprisonment.
“This conviction underscores the Directorate’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure and ensuring the reliable delivery of electricity services. Working hand‑in‑hand with law enforcement, the municipality will continue to investigate, prosecute, and secure convictions against those who threaten essential services,” the municipality said in a statement on Wednesday.
The municipality reiterated its zero-tolerance approach to electricity theft, vandalism, and all forms of infrastructure crime.
“This ruling sends a clear message that offenders will face the full might of the law.”
The city also urged residents to report suspicious activities involving electricity infrastructure to help protect public resources. – SAnews.gov.za
