- Cape Town law enforcement officers apprehended a man attempting to steal cable near Kenilworth.
- The suspect, from Heinz Park, was caught with tools used in the theft and faces charges.
- The incident highlights ongoing infrastructure theft challenges affecting essential services across the city.
City law enforcement officers patrolling the M5 near the Kenilworth Racecourse, a known hotspot for cable theft, apprehended a suspect engaged in cutting and removing essential infrastructure.
At approximately midnight, officers noticed two male suspects in a trench, actively severing and extracting sections of cable. As the officers moved in to intercept, the suspects attempted to flee, but one was successfully apprehended.
The suspect, identified as a 29-year-old man from Heinz Park in Mitchells Plain, was detained and has been charged under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act for damaging and tampering with essential infrastructure. During the arrest, law enforcement also seized a spade and a bush knife believed to have been used in the cable theft attempt.
Cable theft remains a significant concern in the Cape Town area, particularly along major routes like the M5. In addition to causing extensive damage to public infrastructure, cable theft disrupts essential services, affecting businesses, public transport and communication networks.
City’s law enforcement spokesperson Officer Ben Masuku emphasized the severity of the crime and the City’s commitment to addressing it.
In recent years, cable theft has escalated in frequency and scale across Cape Town, leading to significant financial losses and inconvenience. The Criminal Matters Amendment Act was instituted in part to curb this trend, providing stricter penalties for those who damage or interfere with critical infrastructure.
