A 31-year-old man and his two accomplices will appear before the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges related to tampering with essential infrastructure at the Medupi Power Station.

The man is said to be an employee at a maintenance company stationed at the Medupi and Matimba power plants.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says police received information about the theft of Eskom copper cables – worth more than R150 000 – at the power plant on Tuesday. Local police and the Eskom Security Team began their investigations the next day, he adds.

The stolen property was found concealed in bushes outside the power plant.

“The investigation team then set up a trap to arrest the thieves who were expected to come back for collection of the copper cables. Four suspects arrived on foot at the plant on Wednesday night and evaded arrest by running in different directions after they noticed they were being watched,” his statement reads.

Ledwaba says a manhunt for the suspects was activated in the premises and one of them was found next to the railway line in a vehicle but sped off.

“A car chase ensued, the vehicle was cornered and the suspect arrested immediately. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect works under a maintenance subcontractor at the Medupi and Matimba power plants and attempted to flee the scene with a vehicle intended to transport the stolen cables out of the plant,” he explains.

Ledwaba says the suspect led the police to an informal settlement situated near the power plant where two more suspects were arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning.

“The fourth suspect was not found at the informal settlement and a manhunt has since been launched to locate him,” he adds.

Anyone with information should contact the investigating officer, Sergeant Nndwamato Mambo, on 079 765 8761, the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or their nearest police station. Alternatively, send information through via the MySAPS app.