Deputy Mayor and the DA to be reported for trying to kill copper thieves

COSATU will be reporting the Deputy Mayor's plans to electrocute copper cable thieves to the Public Service Commission and the Human Rights Commission. COSATU will also lay charges at the police station about the DA intention to do grievous bodily harm, through the policy of the City of Cape Town.

The deputy Mayor on a radio interview on Heart 104.9 had confirmed that the DA leaves on the electricity in some areas to deter thieves from stealing the copper, this clearly is with the intent to electrocute the thieves. There has however been no notice sent out telling people that the electricity will be live with current. During the day people generally expect the electricity to be off and so people, including kids try to steel copper to get money.

This is not an attempt to justify theft, but to caution against the intention to try and kill copper thieves by leaving the current on. Many years ago the border fence was electrified, in a manner that killed people trying to cross the fence to get into SA. Getting into the country may have been illegal, but it was found to be a crime when the lives of people were endangered, where they could be injured or killed.

For Ian Nielsen to say this on public radio is an outrage and the City administration must be held to account for this. The disregard that Nielsen showed in the way he communicated the message, demonstrated a callous disregard for the people who will be endangered by it. Ian Nielsen should be removed from public office for this attitude that demonstrates a sense of racism

Statement issued by COSATU W Cape Provincial Secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, November 3 2011

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