Nored offers reward for cable busts

INCREASING cable theft has forced the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) to offer a reward to anyone with information on the cable crooks.

Announcing the N$3 000 reward at the company headquarters at Ondangwa, public relations officer Herman Ngasia said that since February this year, Nored has suffered losses totalling $66 848 because of theft. He said hundreds of metres of cable have been stolen at Iihongo, Onankali and Uunghete villages in the Onayena and Onyaanya constituencies. Ngasia said anyone with information on the cable thefts can approach Nored’s head office or report it to the nearest Police station.Ngasia also urged the public not to buy cables or other electrical equipment from just anyone, as they might be stolen. ‘Anybody found in possession of stolen items will be prosecuted, even if the item was bought from someone else. The only solution is to report it when a person intends to sell it to you,’ he said.He added that stolen cables will no longer be replaced at the company’s cost, but that customers will have to foot the bill if they want to be reconnected.Ngasia also appealed to motorists to drive carefully so that they do not damage electricity infrastructure. This appeal follows recent incidents at Ondangwa and Ongwediva in which vehicles collided with electricity infrastructure, which was severely damaged.