Cable theft should be treated as an act of economic treason. While most of us were preoccupied by the political events taking place in SA, from the passing on of former ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa to the Bell Pottinger and KPMG sagas, something of greater magnitude was taking place in the Johannesburg CBD. Cable worth about R50m was stolen, which had a devastating ripple effect on the economy, jobs and the movement of citizens of our city. In some instances workers had to be sent home because their offices and workplaces didn’t have electricity. Businesspeople are still counting their losses — and in some extreme cases, they won’t be able to recoup these, so they will be shutting down their businesses, adding to the job-loss bloodbath. Where were our law-enforcement agencies? I think it’s about time our lawmakers moved swiftly in regulating the scrap-metal industry. It has become a haven for criminals, where they can dispose of their loot for a few rand. It is ...
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