Three men have been kept in custody at Westville Prison following their court appearance in KwaDukuza on Monday after they were allegedly caught with copper cables and cell phone tower batteries with an estimated value of R1m last Friday.

The arrested men included the son of Shakaskraal Ward 28 councillor Doeshiee Govender, Ashlaine Govender and two others, Thembinkosi Khumalo and Mohammad James, who face charges of damaging or tampering with essential infrastructure and for being in possession of stolen property.

Police say the arrest followed a sting operation during which an illegal scrap metal dealer was surveilled at Shakaskraal.

“The team swooped on the scrapyard. It was established that the business was indeed operating illegally,” said police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala.

The three men, aged between 34 and 36 years, were found in possession of Transnet copper cables weighing around 614.5kg. Police also found a bag containing 18 cell phone tower batteries.

The men will appear again in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court next Tuesday, when they are expected to apply for bail.