Eskom making strides in combatting copper theft
Eskom believes its finally winning the war against copper theft.
"This week alone we arrested nine people across three provinces; KwaZulu Natal, Western Cape and Mpumalanga," says Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe.
The first two arrests were made on 15 November near the Paardevlei farm in the Western Cape and in Hendrina, Mpumalanga.
On 17 November three more suspects were apprehended at the Majuba Power Station in Mpumalanga when they illegally breached the power station parameter fence.
Phasiwe says the work done over the past three years to combat copper theft is finally starting to bear fruit.
Copper theft is costing Eskom billions each year, money the power utility could be using to improve infrastructure.
"Combating this crime, which costs the economy between R5 billion and R7 billion a year, is everyone's responsibility. All residents can make a difference by reporting cable theft via anonymous tip-offs on SMS to Operation Khanyisa on 32211 (R1/SMS)," says Phasiwe.