Five arrested by Hawks
Five suspects were arrested during multi-disciplinary disruptive operation conducted by the Middelburg based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Witbank DSO, CPI Transnet, Nelspruit Crime Intelligence and Eskom at several scrap metal dealers including Monkey Scrap Metal dealer, Old Middleburg Road, Orgies and Magatle scrap metal dealer on Monday 04 July 2022 respectively.
Information was received and a disruptive operation was conducted targeting the scrap metal dealers who contravened the Second Hand goods Act around Mpumalanga.
The team proceeded to Old Middelburg road at Monkey scrap metal dealer where a search operation was executed.
They allegedly found Eskom pylon weighing 740 kg, Eskom cable 350 meters long and a burned copper 98,5 kg valued to over two hundred thousand rands (R200 000.00).
The suspect who is the lawful owner of Monkey scrap metal, Beatrice Geldenhys (40) was arrested.
The accused appeared before the Witbank Magistrate Court today, Tuesday, 6 July 2022 and she was granted R5000.00 bail and the case was postponed to 5 August 2022 for further investigation.
During operation the team proceeded to JE&M scrap metal at Kendal and copper cable weighing 44kg was seized and three suspects, Raputsoe Taoana (29), Prince William Mbanzini (29) and Lawrence Makhinika (30) were arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen property in terms of Second Hands Goods Act 6 of 2009. The team also arrested Takalani Nndweleni (44) at Magatle Scrap Metals where copper weighing 72kg was seized. The total value of the seized properties is over a million rand.
The four appeared before the Ogies Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 06 July 2022 and they were remanded in custody. The case was postponed to 12 July 2022 for formal bail application and investigation is continuing.
The Acting- Provincial Head of the Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation Brigadier Gregory Gaillard hailed the multi-disciplinary approach by the team from different stakeholders.
He further warned the community to refrain from stealing Eskom equipment as it is affecting the economy of the country.
