Cloned - ‘COVER-UP’ – City of Cape Town refutes Fadiel’s R60m cable theft claims - IOL

Fadiel Adams alleges that unwrapped electrical cables belonging to the City of Cape Town, worth more than R60 million, were stolen.

The City of Cape Town has slammed allegations by NCC leader Fadiel Adams that more than R60 million worth of unwrapped City-owned electrical cable was stolen and that the metro tried to cover up the alleged theft.

Adams made the shocking claims in a Facebook live on Tuesday, 8 September, alleging that the City had purchased millions of rands worth of cable which was later stolen from a Hanover Park depot.

He described the cable as being 75mm thick and “the size of a downpipe”.

In the video clip, he said: “Here’s the sick part. The City of Cape Town has put out an electrical tender. There is no reason for the depots to buy electrical wire. So, it was unauthorised, purchased and delivered. And then it was stolen.

“It was stolen and the City of Cape Town has not laid a criminal charge. They have tried to cover it up.”

He also questioned why the City’s specialist anti-copper theft unit, known as the Copperheads, had allegedly not investigated the matter.

“Despite having a unit called the Copperheads, the City is unable and unwilling to look at R60 million worth of theft at the Hanover Park depot, amongst others. Make it make sense,” Adams said.

But City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo has strongly rejected the allegations.

“The allegations are false,” he said.

Tyhalibongo also pointed out that the City does not have a depot in Hanover Park, saying the area is serviced by a regional depot.

“We urge all public representatives to report such matters and to submit evidence of the serious allegations through the City’s official channels and with the South African Police Service so that they can be thoroughly investigated,” he said.

He said Cape Town residents and businesses are impacted by vandalism, theft and illegal connections, which are in part driven by the illegal scrapyard trade.

He added that the City continues to actively fight vandalism, cable theft and illegal connections through law enforcement operations, infrastructure hardening, alternative technology and raids on illegal scrapyards.

“Our Protect Your Power campaign also encourages anonymous tip-offs of criminal activity taking place,” he said.

Adams has not publicly provided evidence to substantiate his allegations.