Two former Transnet employees in Kimberley were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for stealing copper from locomotives.
Tumelo Mokupi (36) and Lefu Tsiu (40) were recently sentenced in the Kimberley Regional Court to 15 years’ imprisonment each for tampering with essential infrastructure, said Lt. Col Sergio Kock, media spokersperson.
Kock said on 17 February 2020 at about 10:50, members of the Provincial Organized Crime unit were busy with investigations at a local scrap metal dealer in Kimberley when they spotted a suspicious VW Polo with two male occupants.
The vehicle sped off, but the police members ensued and managed to stop them close to the Kimberley police station. Police members searched the car boot and found 58 copper plates that were stolen from locomotives at Transnet.
The two accused were arrested and the vehicle was confiscated as it was allegedly used in the commission of crime.
The provincial head for Organized Crime Detectives, Brig. Johan Myburgh, commended WO Henk van der Merwe for his meticulous investigation that led to this outstanding sentence.
In an unrelated case, widespread power outages were experienced in Kimberley, especially the Beaconsfield and Klisserville areas, on Monday, 11 April. The Cassandra area was also, once again, in the dark due to cable theft, said Thoko Riet, spokesperson for the Sol Plaatje Municipality.
The police urge members of the public to report stolen goods to the SAPS Crime Stop number by dialing 08600-10111. More thieves and buyers of stolen goods can be arrested if the public continue to be whistle blowers on stolen goods, and inform the authorities of illegal second-hand dealers and recyclers.
Furthermore, cable theft is a crime and hinders the growth of the economy.
