Cape Town – Ekurhuleni police are looking for suspects who were seen tampering with infrastructure in front of a local police station in a video that circulated on social media recently.
In the video, the suspects appear to be pulling and stealing copper cables while police officers in full uniform can be seen in the background ignoring the incident.
According to a social media user who shared the video, the incident happened on Wednesday in Reiger Park.
EWN reported that a group of thieves started digging up the cables on Wednesday night on Goedehoop Avenue, where a police station is situated.
The report said the pavement was destroyed, leaving water pipes exposed and manholes uncovered.
It, however, remained unclear when the City of Ekurhuleni would be able to replace the cables.
#ReigerPark #Cabletheft #SAPS #Lawlessness #26january2023 scenes at Reiger Park polic station pic.twitter.com/DNXO9MwaTX
— Shanston (@Gee2Be) January 26, 2023
A community member, who wished to remain anonymous told the publication that the police were not doing much to resolve the situation.
“I can say on the record, they told me personally that they are afraid of them. So, as a community where does that leave us when [the police] can’t help?,” the report quoted the community member as saying.
The Citizen reported that the police had since opened a case of theft and tampering with essential infrastructure.
“Police received information that there were people who are digging and stealing copper in Reiger Park. Police and Public Order Policing responded to the scene and on arrival, the group ran in different directions.
“Police found digging tools and some copper cables abandoned. A case of theft and tampering with essential infrastructure was opened for investigation. No arrests have been made yet,” police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo was quoted as saying.
He said that the officers in the video did react to the theft of the cables at the time of the incident despite the clip showing otherwise.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
