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Bribes, Arson, and Power Play: City Power Crackdown Yields Two Arrests
Authorities in Johannesburg have arrested two suspects linked to crimes targeting the city’s electrical infrastructure. The arrests form part of a broader effort to combat theft and damage to essential services.
The first suspect, 40-year-old Sipho Vundla, was apprehended for impersonating a City Power team leader. Vundla allegedly demanded a R97,000 bribe to expedite an electrical connection for a businessman who had already paid R337,000 to the City of Johannesburg in June 2023. Upon discovering the payment was misallocated in April 2024, Vundla allegedly offered to “fast-track” the process in exchange for the bribe. He was arrested and appeared in court on Friday, where his bail application was denied.
In a separate incident, 29-year-old Jafta Mofokeng from Auckland Park was arrested for arson and tampering with essential infrastructure. Mofokeng was caught setting fire to critical MSS and RMU electrical equipment near Twickenham Avenue after a tip-off from a resident. He is suspected of involvement in two other similar cases currently under investigation.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena emphasized the significance of the arrests, stating, “These arrests mark a major step in combating theft, arson, and the damage to critical infrastructure, which poses a serious risk to the safety and stability of essential services in Johannesburg.”
Both suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, with authorities vowing to crack down on further criminal activities targeting the city’s vital infrastructure.
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