A man, 38, ended up in hospital with burn wounds after tampering with a mini substation in Milton Road, Scottsville last week. According to the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement spokesman, Wayne Dyason, the man, who lives in Scottsville, was traced to a day hospital where he was being treated for wounds to the hands and face.
Scottsville residents have urged the police to be visible in the area after a mini substation in Milton Road was tampered with last Monday, causing a power failure.
One of the residents who only identified himself as Richie, said he had been reading a book and listening to the radio at about 3pm on Monday last week when the power went off.
“When I went out to find out what was happening, I saw other people also standing outside.”
Ronnie Koopman, from the same street, said Eskom technicians had come out quickly to fix the problem.
The power had been out for two hours.
“I heard the radio went off and also checked the fridge was off, but fortunately nothing was damaged,” said Mr Koopman.
He said more police patrols were needed in the area as he had seen people sitting on top of the substations in the past.
Mr Dyason said there had been visible signs of electrical arcing inside the substation and a copper cable had been removed.
Kraaifontein police station commander Brigadier Gerda van Niekerk referred Northern News to the SAPS provincial office, who in turn said we should get comment at station level.
Mr Dyason said members of the public who did not wish to be identified reported to the Metals Theft officer that the person who was tampering at the electrical box was electrocuted but was taken to hospital by other unknown people prior to our arrival.
The incident occurred shortly after three.
“A criminal case was opened under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act and is being investigated by Kraaifontein police,” Mr Dyason said.
The estimated repair costs amounts to about R10 000.
