Minisubstation Stolen a Day After Installation, Worth R 500 000

• A transformer worth over half a million has been stolen outside a school in Fleurhof in Roodepoort
• The mini-substation provided electricity to the school and belongs to City Power in Johannesburg
• The South African Police Services are investigating the theft and City Power stated that it has had to increase security in Fleurhof

JOHANNESBURG - City Power in Johannesburg has called for information from the Fleurhof neighbourhood in Roodepoort after a mini-substation was stolen a day after it was installed.

The mini-substation was stolen outside a school and is said to have been worth R500 000 according to News24. A criminal case of theft of essential infrastructure has been filed at the South African Police Services.

City Power's Security Risk Management general manager, Sergeant Thela says theft of the power utility's infrastructure has become a common occurrence.

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Thela stated that criminals usually steal cables, substation doors, busbars and fuses. He added that in some cases the criminals commit these crimes while heavily armed.

According to My Broadband, City Power has also launched an internal probe into the matter, the company is of the belief that the criminals might have had help from staff members.

City Power says it has been in communication with the school about more information on the theft because the mini-substation solely provides electricity to the school.

City Power also said it has increased security in Fleurhof, which was previously prone to cable theft.

'Heartbreaking': Thugs hijack SPCA van after they rescued injured pup, Saffas outraged

In other news, Briefly News reported that a Kloof and Highway Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) field officer found himself at the receiving end of a harrowing ordeal on Tuesday, 31 August.

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Responding to a frantic call about an injured dog that was hit by a car just after 9 pm, the officer arrived at a property in Tshelimnyama, Mariannhill, to find it lying on the ground.

The officer was then allegedly confronted by two men carrying guns as he waited to speak to the dog's owner.

Turning to Facebook, Kloof SPCA manager Barbara Patrick recalled the incident in grizzly detail in a post published on Wednesday afternoon.

"The men held our field officer at gunpoint whilst demanding that he unlock the doors of his vehicle. They then got into the vehicle on either side of our field officer and drove off," said Patrick.

"Thankfully, they then stopped and let him get out the vehicle and take the dog and a cat with him. They then drove off with our vehicle, his cellphone, cash donations and our equipment."

Source: Briefly News