Man assaults REA workers with a knobkerrie over power utility cables

by Staff reporter

2012 May 26 06:54:43 | 1621 Views

A LUPANE man ran riot, severely assaulting Rural Electrification Agency (REA) workers with a knobkerrie and smashing their truck after demanding that the power utility's lines should not pass over his homestead.

Two of the power utility's workers were reportedly referred to St Luke's Hospital, one having sustained a swollen wrist and the other a swollen knee, after the assault.

The incident, which was confirmed by the officer commanding Lupane Police District, Chief Superintendent Johannes Govo, occurred on Thursday at about 1pm.

A villager said the man, Khalelephi Ncube (35) of Jantshantsha Village, told the REA workers that they should erect extra poles so that their power lines passed around his homestead, instead of going over it.

"He insisted on that and everyone thought he was joking. He said electricity lines attracted lightning and would expose his homestead to danger," said the villager, who asked not to be named.

The villager said when Ncube saw the REA truck parked near his homestead, he warned the workers that they were risking their lives by going ahead with the project.

"He was very angry and he rushed into a hut and came out with a knobkerrie. Wabasukela wabavuba ngenduku baze bacela enyaweni. Basebekhangelane lokufa babona kungcono ukuthi batshiye imota yomsebenzi," said the villager.

"Apparently, Ncube's anger had not been quenched because he then turned his energy on the vehicle and smashed all its windows with the knobkerrie."

Chief Supt Govo said Ncube was arrested on the same day.

"He is being charged with assault and malicious damage to property. His victims were treated and discharged from hospital on the same day as well," said Chief Supt Govo.

He said there was a need for REA to carry out education campaigns in most rural areas to clear misconceptions about electrical power.

"However, ignorance is no excuse against the law. What Ncube did is illegal. His lack of knowledge cannot be accepted as a reason for police to let him go free. The law does not allow anyone to beat up other people, neither does it permit the destruction of property. He has been arrested and will soon appear in court," said Chief Supt Govo.

knobkerrie Lupane

Source: Tc