The City of Cape Town announced an eight-hour power outage. Image: Pixabay.
City of Cape Town official dies after ‘severely vandalised’ cables exploded
‘It is utterly devastating that a colleague’s life has been lost due to the impact of infrastructure vandalism while in the line of duty,’ said the City of Cape Town.
The City of Cape Town announced an eight-hour power outage. Image: Pixabay.
Terence Henry Stringer, a City of Cape Town electricity official, died in hospital from injuries he suffered while on duty.
CITY OF CAPE TOWN ELECTRICITY OFFICIAL DIES
Stringer passed away on Saturday, 16 April. The City of Cape Town said he was part of an electricity team attending to a report about damaged infrastructure caused by theft and vandalism to supply cables at the Gugulethu substation on 4 April.
A section of the medium voltage cable had reportedly been dug up and set alight by suspects.
“Mr Stringer, four contractors, and a member of the public were injured when the insulation of the damaged cables further deteriorated and caused an explosion.
“It is utterly devastating that a colleague’s life has been lost due to the impact of infrastructure vandalism while in the line of duty,” said the City.
According to the City, Stringer joined in 1993 and was one of the first employees to be appointed to the Gugulethu Electricity Depot shortly after it was built.
“Colleagues remember him for his commitment to his work and for always going the extra mile. In his spare time, he enjoyed carpentry and was always willing to share his woodwork expertise with colleagues when anything needed to be repaired. Between jobs, he often kept the Depot’s flower garden neat and tidy.
“The City has lost a valuable staff member and our thoughts are with his wife and family,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen.
READ:
