Cable-theft suspects were arrested in Empangeni after vigilant residents and private security officers intercepted and detained them during a coordinated response on Wednesday. Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has welcomed the arrests, praising the community for acting swiftly to protect critical infrastructure in the City of uMhlathuze. Buthelezi said the incident showed the impact of active community partnership in fighting crime.
“We applaud the residents and security teams for responding positively to the call for assistance. Their actions have prevented further sabotage of critical infrastructure and sent a strong message that criminality will not be tolerated,” he said. He condemned cable theft as a serious offence that cripples essential services, including water, electricity, sanitation and traffic systems.
“Cable theft is not a petty crime, it is economic sabotage. It hinders service delivery, causes power outages, leaves streets in darkness and compromises traffic lights, putting lives at risk,” he said. These crimes cost municipalities millions of rands and undermine the government’s efforts to provide reliable services.
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Buthelezi called for tough action against the suspects if convicted, urging the justice system to impose harsh penalties to deter similar crimes. He also appealed to communities across KwaZulu-Natal to remain alert and report suspicious activity linked to cable theft or infrastructure sabotage. Cogta said it will continue supporting municipalities and law-enforcement agencies to safeguard public assets and ensure that service delivery is not derailed by criminal acts.
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