Preservation order obtained in cellphone tower battery theft case

The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in KwaZulu-Natal obtained a Preservation of Property Order in the Pietermaritzburg High Court in respect of a Toyota Quantum believed to have been used in the theft of eight Huawei cellphone tower batteries. The batteries, weighing about 400kg, were stolen in Vryheid in May last year.

Thabile Nontobeko Mkhize, Alice Magona and Mathew Mapaila were arrested for the theft, with the vehicle belonging to Mkhize. The matter returns to the Vryheid Magistrate’s Court on May 17 for a pre-trial conference.

The vehicle will remain under the order until the AFU obtains a Forfeiture Order. The Preservation of Property Order was successfully obtained by Senior State Advocate Vika Ngqasa. This matter is indicative of the impact made by the AFU in the fight against organised crime, especially where there is destruction of infrastructure.

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