Cable theft costs Eskom millions

More than R25 millions worth cables have been stolen from Eskom since last year. Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin says the impact on the economy has been widespread.

Erwin was replying to a question in Parliament by the Inkatha Freedom Party’s (IFP) Hennie Bekker. Parliament is currently considering legislation to regulate the trade in scrap metal, in an effort to curb copper and aluminium theft around the country.

Meanwhile, shares reportedly to the value of R10 million to be awarded to Eskom's management have come under scrutiny. The Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on public enterprises Mannie van Dyk says the awarding of such shares will be outrageous, given that South Africans are bearing the brunt of extreme negligence on the part of Eskom management.