Shocked residents in Elsies River found the body of a 54-year-old alleged cable thief on the property of St. Andrews Technical High School early on Sunday morning.
While the cause of death is yet to be established, according to authorities on the scene, Jan Rooy, 54, from Connaught Estate may have shocked to death while allegedly stealing cables.
Residents stood outside the school fence where Rooy and two other men allegedly “regularly entered the premises to steal cables”.
Rooy was found on his back, half sitting up against the wall, with a blue overall jacket covering his face.
There was no apparent cause of death visible, but officers on the scene said it looked like he was electrocuted and his friends failed to help.
An officer tells the Daily Voice the man has “been stealing cables for years”, and the trench found yesterday was fresh.
“We were alerted by community members who were passing the school that the man was dead inside the school property.
“In this area, he and two of his friends are known for their illegal activities.
“They are regular offenders and are always stealing cables in the area. It looks like he might have shocked, but there is no visible injury,” the officer says.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut, said an inquest docket was opened. “The body of an unknown male person was found at St. Andrews High School in Ravens-
mead this morning.
“A death inquest case docket has been registered as foul play is not suspected at this stage,” Traut said.