Collaborative efforts by members of Combined Private Investigation (CPI) and the police resulted in the recovery of stolen copper cables and the arrest of 11 suspects on November 5, in Stilfontein and Potchefstroom.

Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, police spokesperson, says CPI members were following up on leads regarding suspected copper cable theft incidents when they noticed a suspicious silver Volkswagen Polo near the Telkom substation.

“The team then closely monitored the area and inspected it on Wednesday morning. During the inspection, it was established that one manhole had been tampered with. Further inspection led to the arrest of three males who were found cutting cables inside the second manhole.”

The suspects were apprehended with the assistance of Stilfontein Police Station and Klerksdorp Crime Combatting Unit (CCU) members. Ensuing investigations at Breede Street resulted in the recovery of Telkom cables and the arrest of three additional suspects.

“Following this, a Nissan Navara bakkie, which sped off from the vicinity, was spotted in Potchefstroom with cables inside. The police arrested three male occupants after failing to account for the possession. After a given lookout for another vehicle, two more suspects were arrested after copper cables were discovered in their Suzuki vehicle. Out of the five suspects, three of them were linked with a case of damage to essential infrastructure registered in Klerksdorp,” Mokgwabone continues.

All suspects arrested in Potchefstroom appeared in the local Magistrate’s Court on November 7, on charges of damage to essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen copper cables. The accused are remanded in custody and is expected back in court on November 14 for a bail application.

The accused, who are from Lesotho, are also facing additional charges of contravening the Immigration Act, 2002. The matter against the sixth suspect is handled in terms of the Child Justice Act, due to him being a minor.