Technicians Work to Restore Electricity to Parts of Durban Following Suspected Thief’s Death at Substation

• A suspected copper thief paid the ultimate price after he allegedly tampered with an electricity substation in Durban
• The incident is believed to have caused a major power outage, which technicians are still working to restore
• Social media users are unsympathetic about the suspected copper thief’s death, saying that he put himself in danger

DURBAN - A suspected copper thief whose body was found at an Isipingo substation is believed to have caused a major power outage in the area. Technicians are still hard at work to repair the damage.

EThekwini Municipality employees made the grim discovery on Tuesday, 21 February after Isipingo and surrounding areas were plunged into darkness. The extensive power outage was believed to have been caused by vandalism at the substation.

The City released a statement and said:

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“City technicians were responding to an outage affecting residents of Isipingo and surrounding areas when they discovered extensive damage at the substation. An electrocuted body was also discovered. The deceased is believed to have been a copper thief.”

The municipality condemned the incident and said copper cable theft costs the city millions yearly. Technicians are still on the scene.

Meanwhile, Councillor Shad Nowbuth told IOL that the power outage affects the pump stations and reservoirs. However, he added that teams are working fast to ensure electricity is restored.

Mzansi reacts to the suspected copper thief’s death

Theo ML Howe said:

“It’s hard to feel pity for thieves. The consequences of their actions are far-reaching.”

Aneliswa Thobeka Booi commented:

“No sympathy for those who put themselves in dangerous and deadly situations. What I am sympathetic about is this no water supply going on today.”

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Shazia Bayat posted:

“Just for a quick sale, he lost his life and everyone else suffered in the process due to a power outage.”

Carol Hunter Marshall wrote:

“Thieves know the dangers: if you steal you can get burnt. I feel for his family, but was his choice to steal.”

Phoka Ea Bataung added:

“Very hard to sympathise with his family knowing how and why he died.”

7 Men arrested for being in possession of stolen copper cables worth R1.5m and turning them into pots

Briefly News also reported that police have busted seven men who were using stolen copper to make three-legged pots. They were arrested for possessing items that are believed to have belonged to eThekwini Municipality and Transnet.

The copper and cables are worth at least R1.5 million. According to The Witness, officers from SAPS, eThekwini Metro Police, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Transnet, Telkom and Eskom cracked down on the suspects.

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After receiving a tip-off, the task team raided a property in Ntuzuma, where they discovered stripped copper cables. An R5 rifle and rounds of ammunition were also found at the property.

Source: Briefly News