Residents in Bonteheuwel stood watching in shock as a cable boef stood high on an electrical pylon connecting Metrorail cables, brazenly cutting wires to sell at the scrapyard.
The man was filmed cutting the live cables between Netreg and Heideveld Train Stations on Sunday afternoon.
In the video, he is seen climbing up the pylon, carefully selecting the cables he wanted to cut.
Speaking to the Daily Voice on Monday, Bonteheuwel Ward councillor, Angus McKenzie, said he was shocked at the
brazenness of the thief, and will address the issue of safety and the protection of infrastructure in his next transport portfolio committee meeting.
Metrorail has been the target of vandalism, arson attacks and cable theft which has crippled the rail service, causing havoc for commuters which were left stranded due to cancelled or late trains.
McKenzie said he was amazed by the sheer plak of the thief.
“[On Sunday] in full view of residents and the local police station an individual was filmed cutting overhead electricity cables.
“This fearless individual is indicative of the systemic failure and inability by SAPS to protect and secure rail infrastructure. New ways of securing infrastructure must be sought. A 3m high boundary wall seems to be no deterrent for vandals on the Cape Flats line,” McKenzie says.
Metrorail spokesperson, Riana Scott, says two incidents of overhead cable theft on Sunday contributed to trains being delayed and some cancellations.