March to protest against cable theft

RESIDENTS of Pimville along with members of Operation Dudula are preparing for a march to City Power’s offices in Soweto where they plan to hand over a memorandum to City officials.

Another march is planned to the Joburg mayor’s office in Johannesburg.

The community gathered at the Hlalefang Primary School ahead of the planned marches against cable theft which they say still continues even after the recent visit by Police Minister Bheki Cele and Gauteng public safety MEC Faith Mazibuko who promised the community a list of interventions to help curb cable theft as well as police response to criminality within the area.

Unlike on previous occasions which resulted in confrontation resulting in the death of one community activist – Kgomotso Diale who died after a group of alleged Sotho nationals was accused of cable theft – the leaders of the march, Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini and Thabang Moloi, urged residents to engage in peaceful programmes of action to avoid further loss of life and escalation of tensions.

Moloi said the march to City Power is to get them to clean some of the bushy areas in the township, neglected to the detriment of public infrastructure, including cables which are easy targets for cable thieves. The petition is “to make sure that they clean our neighbourhood as this has created a hideout for cable thieves”.

Moloi also said residents should no longer allow shacks in their backyards as these attract illegal foreigners and crime to the area.