In Africa people tend to get electrocuted quite often due to criminal activity. This dead fellow below was electrocuted near Brakpan. This 24-year old was apparently, a pretty GOOD cable thief. I should note that copper cables are stolen at a frantic pace all across the country. They often steal them from our railways (which are electrified) and even from our normal electricity supply. The amount of electrical cable theft in South Africa in any normal year is staggering. They steal tons of cables. This has been going on for as long as I can remember. Its nothing new.

Well this fellow was apparently quite a professional at this game. He had a 35 year-old accomplice with him. Their plan of action was for “the professional” to get to work with his hacksaw and his cable stripper and if he was successful then his buddy would help him get the goods away. However, within minutes of starting, “the professional” got himself electrocuted. The cable he had tried to cut was an electrical supply to the nearby Ego mine in Brakpan.

His accomplice was so shocked (pun intended!) by the sudden death of his pal… that he simply stayed around hiding in the bushes watching over the dead body. The Police noticed something strange and ended up catching him and then he told them the full story. He will be appearing in court!

Here is a close-up of the 24 year-old “professional”.

Source: The Daily Sun, 24 November 2006, Page 5.