POTCHEFSTROOM – Eleven suspects were arrested in a major sweep across Stilfontein and Potchefstroom on Wednesday, 5 November, following a collaborative effort between the police and Combined Private Investigation (CPI). The operation successfully recovered a significant amount of stolen copper cables.
The joint team acted on leads concerning suspected copper cable theft, leading them to monitor a suspicious silver Volkswagen Polo near a Telkom substation in Stilfontein. During an inspection on Wednesday morning, they discovered a tampered manhole.
Three male suspects were subsequently apprehended inside a second manhole where they were actively cutting cables. This initial arrest was swiftly executed with the assistance of the Stilfontein police station and the Klerksdorp Crime Combatting Unit (CCU). Ensuing investigations in Breede Street led to the recovery of more Telkom cables and the arrest of three additional suspects.
Multiple arrests follow leads to Potchefstroom
The operation expanded when a Nissan Navara bakkie, which had sped away from the vicinity, was spotted in Potchefstroom with cables inside. Police arrested the three male occupants after they failed to account for their possessions. A subsequent lookout for another vehicle led to the arrest of two more suspects when copper cables were discovered in their Suzuki vehicle.
Out of the eleven arrested, three suspects have been linked to a case of damage to essential infrastructure registered in Klerksdorp.
Suspects facing multiple charges
The suspects arrested in Potchefstroom appeared in the local Magistrate’s Court on Friday 7 November on charges of damage to essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen copper cables. They were remanded in custody until 14 November for a bail application. Three of these accused, who are from Lesotho, also face additional charges for contravening the Immigration Act, 2002.
Meanwhile, five of the six suspects arrested in Stilfontein will also remain in custody after their case was postponed for further investigation on Friday. They are due back in court on 14 November. The sixth suspect, a minor, is being handled in terms of the Child Justice Act and is due to appear in court on Monday, November 10.
The North West Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, applauded all stakeholders for their cooperation. He commended their efforts in “hitting hard on those who disrupt basic services and negatively impact the economy by tampering with or damaging essential infrastructure.”
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