Eleven men were arrested in Umgababa in KZN by Hawks members from the Durban Serious Organised Crime Unit when they were caught burning copper cables last week.

Provincial Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo says the men range in age from 24 to 35.

“They were arrested after they were caught red-handed burning copper cables which were positively identified by eThekwini Municipality officials as the property of the municipality,” says Mhlongo.

They were charged with possession of property suspected to be stolen.

“The street value of the recovered copper cables is approximately R500 000,” says Mhlongo.

The accused appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.