ERMELO – A tip-off led Fidelity Security officers to a local scrap yard this morning, where suspected stolen copper, municipal infrastructure and Transnet property were recovered.

Local Fidelity Security Services manager Tinus Jansen van Vuuren and Alwyn van der Linde responded after receiving information that alleged stolen copper and municipal manhole covers had been sold to the scrap yard.

They were also alerted to a specific vehicle, but it was not at the premises when they arrived.

The vehicle’s registration was later established to be linked to a business in Delmas, although it had not yet been traced.

Acting on the information, they searched the property, where suspected stolen items were found inside the premises and outside the building.

Mxolisi Mbethe, a by-law enforcement officer with the Msukaligwa Local Municipality, Fannie Maseko, the municipality’s law enforcement, disaster and security manager, Transnet’s senior investigating officer, Rendani Nemaguvhuni, and local police were called to the scene to identify the suspected stolen property.

See all the photos: HERE

Officers recovered suspected stolen copper, municipal manhole covers, manhole rings, driving mesh/grids and an Alkaline single battery used by Transnet.

According to police on the scene, the investigation will continue, and all suspected stolen items will be confiscated for processing.

Nemaguvhuni estimated the recovered copper to be worth about R29 000 after it was weighed on an electronic scale at the premises.

Chris Janse van Rensburg, superintendent in the Msukaligwa Local Municipality’s electricity department, said the recovered copper could be linked to power cables stolen the previous night because the outer sheathing matches that of the stolen cables.

He added, however, that it is difficult to determine which recovered cables belong to the municipality and which are from Transnet.

At the time of publication, no arrests had been confirmed, and police investigations were continuing.

Questions have also been sent to the Msukaligwa Local Municipality and the provincial spokesperson for SAPS for comment.

Read more about the municipality’s procedures for disposing of manhole covers, possible legal action against the scrap yard, and Transnet’s explanation of how copper theft syndicates operate in the Highvelder’s printed edition.

Update: After publication, Msukaligwa Municipality spokesperson Mandla Zwane confirmed that some of the recovered items had been positively identified as municipal property. He said it would be premature to speculate whether current or former municipal employees were involved, adding that the SAPS investigation would determine this. Zwane also said municipal assets are disposed of in accordance with legal prescripts and that corrective action would be taken should any municipal employees be implicated. He said it has not yet been confirmed whether the recovered copper is linked to the recent cable theft.