LIGHTS OUT

IT WAS lights out for Hanover Park se mense on Monday morning after two skelms attempted to steal power cables and ended up getting the shock of their lives.

The incident took place after midnight when residents heard a loud bang and alles went completely dark. 

According to eyewitnesses, they saw two guys running, apparently the skelms are known to some mense in the community. 

One of the skelms was on fire and the other one fled from the scene. An ambulance was called and it is alleged that the skurk sustained 100 percent burn wounds.

Resident and spokesperson for the Hanover Park Community Policing Forum Kashiefa Mohammed said that they were still sonder krag at 3pm on Monday. 

She confirmed: “According to reports, one of the skelms sustained burned wounds and was rushed to hospital with the ambulance when he tried cutting through a live electric cable.

"The other skelm ran away. The power outage was through the entire Hanover Park, we were all sitting in the dark.

Mohammed added: "This was a careless act by these perpetrators because there is a gang war in Hanover Park and during this power outage we had a murder and attempted murder.

"We in the Western Cape really need to stand together or else we are going to lose our young men and women to crime and innocent lives will be lost.”

When the Daily Voice contacted SAPS, they said they were unaware of the situation.

However, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy Xanthea Limberg said that they will liaise with the police to bring the perpetrators to book.  

She added: “The electricity outage was caused by attempted theft of electricity infrastructure in the area.

"The City can confirm that one individual, who was injured while committing the attempted theft, was transported to hospital after community members called emergency services to assist.

"The City will liaise with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and take the necessary action against the alleged perpetrators. The City will do all it can to safeguard all community electricity infrastructure.

"The City urges residents to support our efforts and to report all suspicious activity near electricity infrastructure to the South African Police Service and City.

"In several areas throughout the city, electricity teams repair infrastructure as well as streetlights, only to find that the infrastructure vandalised again the very next day.

"City teams remain absolutely dedicated to service delivery despite the challenges. We call on communities across the city to help keep the lights on and to adopt the electricity infrastructure in their neighbourhoods.

"Keep your eyes and ears open to criminality. When we all work together, we can make a big impact. Report any and all criminals stealing or vandalising community infrastructure."