It is no secret that Drakenstein Municipality and its residents have been struggling at the hands of cable and copper thefts, but justice has been served with the conviction of four perpetrators.
Louis Terblanché was found guilty in the Paarl Regional Court of tampering, damaging or destroying an essential infrastructure that provides a basic service to the public. The incident took place on 13 September 2021 in Jan van Riebeeck Drive, Paarl, where Terblanché removed the steel covers from the municipal street lights, after which he cut the electrical copper wires. Terblanché was also found guilty of damaging an electrical box on 3 February this year, by cutting the wires.
On the first count Terblanché was sentenced to six years imprisonment. On the second count he was sentenced for 15 years imprisonment, of which three years are suspended for a period of five years on condition that he is not convicted of tampering, damaging or destroying an essential infrastructure that provides a basic service to the public or theft or attempted theft during the suspension period. The two counts will run concurrently.
On 16 July 2019 the Wellington police arrested Eagan Groenewald, Jacques November and Marion Pietersen in Pentz Street, Wellington for cutting 26 m of copper cables and stealing it, which caused an electricity outage in the area.
Groenewald, November and Pietersen were found guilty in the Paarl Regional Court for tampering, damaging or destroying an essential infrastructure that provides a basic service.
The three men were each sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, of which three years are suspended for five years on the condition they are not convicted for the same crime during the suspension period.
. Residents who see illegal activities are encouraged to report them to the police. Drakenstein Municipality also encourages residents to report all electrical cable and municipal infrastructure theft to their 24/7 Central Operations Centre on 021 807 8508 or 080 131 3553 toll-free. Info about illegal scrapyards and their illegal activities can also be reported.
