“They Must Be Arrested”: Men Filmed Cutting Electrical Cables in Broad Daylight, SA Aggrieved

• A viral video posted on X shows two men allegedly tampering with electrical infrastructure on a wooden power pole in broad daylight
• One man climbs onto a boundary wall to reach the electrical cables while his accomplice assists him from below without safety gear
• South Africans expressed outrage online, calling for stricter law enforcement and legal consequences for public infrastructure damage

A shocking video circulating on social media shows two men brazenly tampering with live electrical infrastructure in broad daylight, reportedly in Coligny, North West. The clip, shared on X by @NorthWesTimes on 6 October 2026, quickly gained widespread attention online as viewers voiced frustration over public property damage.

Touching electric wires without protective gear

The 24-second clip captures one man scaling a residential wall and reaching up a wooden utility pole to manipulate overhead cables. Operating in full view of nearby residents, the individual uses his bare hands to pull and cut through the wiring while an accomplice stands directly beneath him to offer support.

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The dangerous act highlights growing concerns surrounding public safety and illegal electrical connections across South African communities. Neither of the men involved wore safety gloves or protective clothing while handling the overhead power lines. The footage caught the attention of local residents filming from inside a nearby home, with an onlooker expressing disbelief as the individuals continued to work on the pole undisturbed.

Eskom urges public vigilance as cable theft escalates

Eskom has issued a stern warning regarding the growing threat of illegal connections and infrastructure vandalism, specifically highlighting how cable theft causes severe power disruptions and creates life-threatening safety hazards for local communities. The power utility emphasised that tampering with high-voltage electricity infrastructure not only leads to prolonged unscheduled outages and heavy financial losses, but it also carries an extremely high risk of fatal public injury. Eskom urges citizens to refrain from illegal connections and to report acts of cable theft and vandalism immediately to local law enforcement or the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 11 27 22.

Mzansi demands tougher action on infrastructure theft

The clip sparked an immediate reaction across social media platforms, with citizens calling on law enforcement agencies to intervene. Many expressed concern over the safety risks and the ongoing economic impact of cable cutting and vandalism:

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@swissmiss_15 shared:

"@SAPoliceService there's crime in progress. Evidence clear as day! Infrastructure damage. People who damage infrastructure should be charged with Treason!"

@Titusson_Zealot wrote:

"No protective gloves, nothing, just vibes and crime. Idiots."

@Ebrahim78656939 highlighted community consequences:

"Residents see what is happening, and next thing, they'll protest and blame the government"

@FatKyl3 questioned policing efforts:

"@CrimeWatch_RSA, where's the intelligence community?"

@rikhothovh advised:

"Eskom should report this to SAP; they must be arrested before sunset."

@MagongoMuzi said:

"Scrap yard owners should pay big time for buying from these."

Other theft-related articles

• Media personality Mitch sparked hilarity online after reacting to a UK podcaster's genuine shock upon discovering the prevalence and scale of cable theft in South Africa.
• A local woman woke up to a chaotic morning after thieves stole all the tyres off her car and left it propped up on bricks, shocking the online community.
• Briefly News reported that a night out took a sharp turn when men booked at a penthouse in Cape Town were allegedly robbed of designer clothes, shoes, and cash by women they met at a club.

Source: Briefly News