Residents of Beacon Valley have taken a stand against cable theft, by apprehending a suspect caught red-handed.
On Saturday 26 August, residents apprehended one of the three suspects while they were allegedly stripping a substation in the area.
Ward 116 councillor, Solomon Philander says: “Beacon Valley is one of the communities that is hard hit by cable theft.
“The cost to the ratepayers increases year on year. On Monday 7 August, the community of Judo Street and surrounds were left without power for up to five days due to vandalism.
“City restored power, however, this left the community to suffer.”
Philander adds that this was a major inconvenience to residents.
“The inconvenience to the people working, as they have to prepare for work and return home in darkness. Schoolchildren were left without electricity knowing that matriculants had to study in the dark.
“The frozen items in the fridges went off. The unscheduled load shedding due to cable theft has left the community frustrated and angry,” he says.
Philander says the same suspects who had vandalised the substation on that Monday, returned to continue stripping the substation.
“The community had enough and apprehended one of the three suspects. When I arrived on the scene I asked the community for calm and I facilitated the law enforcement to process the arrest.
“This is a community arrest and I want to salute the community who stood together to prevent further damage and inconvenience to the greater community.”
Philander says he was disheartened to hear the comments made by a news anchor recently, who stated there was no hope for the community of Beacon Valley.
“He had the view that gangs rule our street. What gives me hope for our community, is that the majority of the community is people who want to see change and live an honest life.
“I know of many young people from Beacon Valley who made it in life. I found fresh hope on Saturday when the community stood together against their own who vandalised electricity infrastructure to make a community arrest,” he says.
Report vandalism to 021 480 7700.
