Three suspects arrested in connection with Joburg data centre break-in

The South African Police Services (SAPS) arrested three suspects connected to a break-in at City of Joburg data centre in Braamfontein last weekend.

In a statement released by the office of the executive mayor, Herman Mashaba, the city said SAPS worked with Group Forensic Investigation Department following a tip-off received from a member of the public regarding the theft.

Two of the suspects were arrested in Tembisa yesterday afternoon while another was apprehended earlier today, and the investigation is still ongoing.

The City is currently in the process of building its data centre and disaster-recovery centre.

“We are investing in the protection of our citizens’ information while ensuring that we build capacity internally, with the aim of hosting our data infrastructure while minimising our dependency on suppliers to host our infrastructure,” said Mashaba

Mashaba had expressed suspicion that the break-in was the result of an inside job, judging from the way the criminals gained access to the building, as there was no sign of forced entry from the door they used.

During the break-in incident, the criminals made off with copper cables estimated to be about R2 million. In turn, the stolen copper cable was allegedly sold for R20 000.

Some of the stolen copper was recovered in Devland, Johannesburg. Mashaba informed the media that the City spent about R60 million a year replacing stolen cables.

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