More arrests imminent as fight against cable theft intensifies

More arrests were reportedly imminent as investigations into the ongoing theft of infrastructure belonging to parastatal company Transnet’s infrastructure continued across the country.

“Based on current ongoing investigations across the country, more arrests are expected to follow,” Transnet spokesperson Ayanda Shezi said.

This after four of the company’s employees – from its freight rail division – were arrested on charges of copper theft last week.

“Transnet, working with law-enforcement agencies, has intensified the fight against cable theft in recent month, and the collaboration continues to yield results.”

Shezi explained it was through a joint operation with their security division, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) that the four employees at the parastatal were arrested at the Koedoespoort infrastructure maintenance depot on Wednesday.

“This follows the arrests of two suspects, a week ago, who were en route to a scrap metal facility with a truckload of copper cables from Transnet,” she said.

Through further investigation it was uncovered that the suspects were working with some of the parastatal’s employees who were arrested on Tuesday, she added.

“The arrest demonstrates that Transnet will not tolerate the economic sabotage caused by cable theft or the tampering and damaging of essential infrastructure as defined in the criminal matters amendment act, act 15 of 2015 and sends a strong message to those who are involved in such criminal activities that they will be arrested and prosecuted,” Shezi said.

Freight rail at the parastatal had reportedly lost 354 227 metres of overhead cables between April 2019 and January 2020.

The loss allegedly led to an average of 21 trains being cancelled per day.

“In 2020 alone, Transnet Freight Rail reported 5 138 incidents ranging from cable theft, vandalism of rail equipment and deliberate cutting of cables,” Shezi said.

Police spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu explained those intercepted on their way to the scrap metal facility were found in possession of stolen copper which weighed about 3 840kg.

The suspected copper was reportedly valued at approximately R1,9-million.

In a separate incident, police recovered 10 of the parastatals transformers at a business premises in Doornpoort, after they were reportedly stolen in Rygerpark, in Germiston.

A 36-year-old man was arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen goods.

The recovered transformers were said to be valued at R1,7-million.

Hawks provincial head Major General Ebrahim Kadwa commended those involved for their swift response and ensuring the suspects were brought to book.

“We are going to clamp down on those contributing to the high-end of the non-ferrous metals and essential infrastructure illicit value chain in our country,” he said.

He added that, over the years, state-owned-enterprises, municipalities, telecommunications and mining sectors had suffered huge losses and experienced disruptions to essential services due to the attack on essential infrastructure and theft of the non-ferrous metals.

“In response to this widespread scourge of attacks on essential infrastructure by highly organised criminal networks, the government, especially the law-enforcement sector has prioritised the prevention and investigation thereof.”

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