Wednesday 22 January 2020: An Eskom
employee and a scrap metal dealership owner have been arrested for alleged
cable theft. The two were arrested separately on Tuesday, 21 January 2020
following intensive internal investigations.
“Our employee
was tracked to a scrap metal dealership in the east of Johannesburg where he delivered
108 meters and 160 meters (11 kV and 22 kV respectively)
of copper estimated to the value of R280 000, using an Eskom truck on 21 January 2020. The matter was immediately reported to the
local South African Police Service (SAPS) who subsequently made arrests”, said
Motlhabane Ramashi, the Senior Manager for Maintenance and Operations in
Gauteng. The two suspects remain in
custody and will face the full might of the law.
Eskom will
also subject its employee to its internal disciplinary processes. “We are saddened that one of our own is
implicated in the alleged theft, however, we remain committed to rooting out
any wrongdoings that seek to undermine our efforts to deliver services and be
efficient in our operations. The investigation was informed by our commitment
to resource optimisation where we ensure that material is channelled to its
intended use. We will continue to
heighten efforts to curb material losses and any criminal act by anyone,
including our employees”, Ramashi added.
Material
theft undermines Eskom’s ability to deliver on its service delivery
mandate. Copper theft costs the economy
between R5 and R7 billion a year, and Eskom spends about R2 billion a year
replacing stolen cables. Eskom continues to heighten security in hot spot areas
across Gauteng as cable theft may lead to prolonged power outages and
compromises the quality of supply, which affects businesses, essential services
as well as the day-to-day lives of society.
Ramashi urged
all those who may be aware of any form of criminal acts by Eskom employees or
anyone to send their anonymous tip-offs to Crime
Line on 32211.
ENDS