Three foreign nationals were arrested at a business premises, where the police recovered huge amounts of suspected stolen copper cables and aluminium worth more than half a million rand.
The trio was nabbed on Friday in Industria West Extension, Johannesburg.
The police said members of crime intelligence have been working on inquiries involving foreign nationals and local individuals who are stealing copper in large quantities, processing it, and exporting it.
“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 rand and aluminum stacks worth about R200 000,” said Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo.
“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.”
All three suspects – one of them a woman – face charges related to tampering with essential infrastructure, illegal processing of aluminum, and attempted bribery.
The arrested trio are expected to appear before Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court soon.
