BENONI - Criminals are exploiting ongoing power cuts to steal electricity cables, plunging residents into darkness.
That’s according to Ekurhuleni Energy MMC Mzayifani Ngwenya, following prolonged electricity outages in parts of Benoni.
Some residents have been without electricity for ten days. Illegal mining and cable theft are being blamed for the outage.
READ | Frustration mounting as Benoni residents left without electricity
According to Ngwenya, there was an attempted cable theft over the past week, which forced technicians to begin repairs.
However, just as repairs were completed, another fault was detected.
"We had to make sure that we repair those cable faults... When there's no power, you'd find that there'll be criminal activities... Criminals take advantage of the situation."
Ngwenya said it was found that service connection cables were stolen.
Ngwenya explained that in such cases, residents are required to log a call and submit an affidavit.
But because several police stations were also affected by blackouts, it has been difficult to print documents and issue affidavits, thus causing further delays in restoring electricity.
Residents and businesses have expressed frustration over the extended blackout.
For residents, they have had to throw away food after it has spoiled.
Business owners on the other hand said day to day running's of the business have been disrupted.
Ngwena could not give an exact date when electricity would be restored, however maintained that work is underway.