Eleven suspects believed to be part of syndicate nabbed in R35m transformer theft at Laudium substation

Eleven suspects were arrested, part of an alleged cable theft syndicate, who brazenly entered a substation in Laudium and attempted to steal electricity transformers on November 27

A Tshwane municipal employee, was also nabbed as part of the clique who were disabling parts at the Claudius Substation.

Police spokesperson Johan Van Dyk said police officers found trucks and cranes on the scene and a Tshwane metro branded truck.

He said a 40 ton lowbed truck was also observed leaving the premises already carrying a transformer.

“When the truck and crane operators were approached, they stated that they had been hired to remove and transport the transformers to Middelburg, Mpumalanga.”

Van Dyk said they also confirmed that they were employed by a private transport company.

He said the TMPD Cable Theft Unit assisted with the preliminary investigation.

“It was established that no official authorisation had been granted for the removal of the transformers, nor had the transformers been sold.”

Van Dyk said further enquiries revealed that a metro employee who was present on-site with a City of Tshwane vehicle had personally made unauthorised arrangements with a private party to remove the transformers.

“It was discovered that the official had unlocked the National Key Point to facilitate access for the private company.”

Phiri Phiri Security personnel, who are responsible for guarding the premises, confirmed that the city official had brought the trucks and cranes onto the premises to facilitate the removal.

Van Dyk said it was also established that the private company had visited the site on a previous day in the presence of the same metro official.

“Investigations are ongoing to determine what else may have been removed.
The transformers, valued at approximately R35-million, were tampered with and removed, causing an additional estimated R5-million in damages,” said Van Dyk.

He added that a case of tampering with essential infrastructure and theft has been opened.

Van Dyk said 11 suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

He said 4 lowbed trucks, 2 50-tonne crane trucks, 1 Nissan UD 20-tonne truck, 2 Suzuki Carry bakkies, 1 Mahindra bakkie, and 1 VW Caddy bakkie were confiscated.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the arrests were due to community members in the area, who noticed suspicious activity at the substation, where an employee from the city’s Energy and Electricity Department and his associates had arrived in a fleet of marked and unmarked trucks.

“The trucks were equipped with an assortment of equipment, including an expensive crane,” said.

Bokaba said the syndicate had already managed to remove two MVA transformers from the plinth, with one more already dismantled and awaiting to be loaded onto a flat-bed truck.

“What raised the community’s suspicion was that the city had not issued any notice of maintenance at the substation, and there was power supply in the area.”

He said community members promptly contacted the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) Cable Theft Unit and the South African Police Services (SAPS) members.

Bokaba said the law enforcement agencies swiftly responded and apprehended a few suspects, including the Tshwane employee.

However, some of the other suspects managed to flee and evade arrest.

“The city has suffered significant financial losses, with billions lost in the past due to theft and vandalism of infrastructure by well-organised syndicates.”

He said these syndicates wouldn’t have been able to conduct such massive thefts without the help of the city’s employees.

Tshwane City Manager Johann Mettler expressed his outrage at the alleged involvement of a metro employee in the crime.

“I would like to issue a stern warning to other employees who are colluding with criminals that their days are numbered. We will nail them one by one,” he said.

Mettler praised the community’s actions and stated that these are the kinds of partnerships that the metro should forge with communities.

“Government on its own can’t combat this crime phenomenon without the community being our eyes and ears.

“We have always maintained that the infrastructure does not belong to the municipality, but to the community.”

He said it was there to provide services to communities, and therefore the community should guard it at all times.

“This community was brave enough to contact law enforcement after noticing a strange occurrence at the substation, and we implore communities across all seven regions of the city to do so as well.”

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