Man suffers third-degree burns after alleged tampering with live electricity infrastructure in Durban - IOL

A man was taken to hospital after allegedly tampering with live electrical infrastructure near the Jacobs Substation, prompting an eThekwini warning about the dangers of electricity theft and vandalism.

A man sustained severe third-degree burns after allegedly interfering with critical electricity infrastructure near the Jacobs Substation, south of Durban.

This incident that has prompted a stern warning from eThekwini Municipality about the dangers of electricity theft and vandalism.

According to the municipality, the man was allegedly attempting to steal from or tamper with live underground heavy-current electrical infrastructure when his actions triggered an arc flash.

The city said the incident happened on Tuesday and left the man with severe burns.

His screams reportedly alerted nearby community members, who notified authorities. He was subsequently rushed to hospital for medical treatment.

The municipality described the incident as a stark reminder of the potentially fatal consequences of interfering with live electrical infrastructure.

“The electricity network carries dangerous levels of electrical energy, and any attempt to access, tamper with, or remove components can result in severe injury, loss of life, fires, explosions, and damage to equipment,” it said.

It warned that the consequences of infrastructure theft and vandalism extend beyond the individuals directly involved.

Damage to electricity infrastructure can disrupt power supplies to surrounding communities, affect businesses and place additional pressure on municipal teams tasked with restoring services.

“Residents who depend on a stable electricity supply are consequently left without power because of the unlawful actions of individuals seeking to steal or vandalise municipal infrastructure,” the municipality said.

The incident has raised further concern because two similar incidents reportedly occurred in the same region about a year ago, both of which resulted in fatalities.

The municipality urged residents to keep away from electricity infrastructure and warned against attempting to enter substations or access cables, electrical equipment and other restricted areas.

Residents were also encouraged to immediately report suspicious activity around electricity infrastructure to the relevant authorities.

The municipality said protecting electricity infrastructure was a shared responsibility and that preventing theft and vandalism was essential to protecting lives, safeguarding the electricity network and maintaining a safe and reliable power supply for communities.