{"id":299093,"date":"2026-06-19T09:56:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T07:56:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/copper-cable-theft-free-state\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T09:56:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T07:56:56","slug":"copper-cable-theft-free-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/copper-cable-theft-free-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Off-duty police officers intercept truck with copper cable worth R1,8 million"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Two men were arrested after off-duty police officers intercepted a truck carrying suspected stolen copper cable worth more than R1,8 million on the N1 on Wednesday evening 17 June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Members of the Fezile Dabi District Infrastructure Task Team acted on intelligence about a truck transporting copper cable from Welkom. The information indicated the vehicle was expected to collect an additional consignment of copper cable from a scrapyard in Kroonstad before travelling towards Gauteng.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The officers tracked the truck and intercepted it on the N1 after it passed through the Vaal Toll Plaza. A search of the vehicle revealed large quantities of copper cable concealed inside bags in one of the truck&#8217;s containers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The vehicle was escorted to the Sasolburg Police Station, where a comprehensive inspection uncovered a second cache of copper cable hidden beneath bags filled with crushed aluminium cans in another container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two men, aged 27 and 59, were arrested and face charges of tampering with and damaging essential infrastructure, possession of suspected stolen property and possession of suspected stolen copper cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The suspects are expected to appear in the Parys Magistrate&#8217;s Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Copper cable theft disrupts electricity supply, communication networks and public services whilst costing the economy millions of rand each year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two men were arrested after off-duty police officers intercepted a truck carrying suspected stolen copper cable worth more than 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