By Nangamso Mabindla
23 September 2005

REPORT people who steal copper wire from overhead electricity conductors, Buffalo City Municipality has urged communities.

Over the past two weeks overhead electrical cables have been cut down 10 times - five times at the Buffalo River Pump Station, four times in Duncan Village and Buffalo Flats, and on Thursday, 22 September, cables were stolen during the night in Cambridge.

Joseph Hames, from the municipality's electricity department, said it cost the City R30 000 every time it had to fix the problems. "We have spent over R300 000 to date and at this rate it looks like we will spend more money."

He said that when power was cut off at the Scenery Park power station it ceased to work, meaning no water for East Londoners. "The community suffers. We think it is time our communities started working with us to put an end to this."

City police were dispatched to stop the thefts at the Pump Station, but the perpetrators moved to Duncan Village and Cambridge.

"We suspect that this could be a gang, because they do [it] in an organised manner. When we put the city police in Scenery Park, they moved to other areas," Hames explained.

If caught, the suspects could be charged with theft and vandalism. To report cable theft contact Joseph Hames on 043 705 9614.