PARKTOWN – Three suspects were arrested after suspected stolen copper cables were recovered at their company premises in Industria West Extension, Johannesburg on Friday 27 May 2022. Another charge was added after one of the suspects attempted to bribe the police for their release.
Members of crime intelligence have been working on inquiries involving suspects who are stealing copper in large quantities, processing it, and exporting it to foreign countries.
Various units of the South African Police Service in Gauteng and electricity utilities, that include Eskom and City Power, pounced on the premises where they found suspected stolen copper cable valued at approximately half a million rands (R 500 000) and aluminium stacks worth about two hundred thousand rands (R200 000).
Upon preliminary investigations on the premises, the City Power and Eskom officials confirmed that the suspects and the company have tempered with high voltage electricity supply.
The suspects are facing charges of tempering of essential infrastructure, illegal processing of aluminium (non-ferrous metal) and attempted bribery. They are expected to appear before Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court in due course.
The newly established multi-disciplinary Essential Infrastructure Task Team is making inroads in the arrests of suspects and recovery of copper cables.
Source: South African Police Service