A 40-year-old security supervisor from Eskom’s Tutuka power station was arrested on March 5 by the Hawks’ Secunda-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation team.

His arrest brings the total number of accused in the case to eight.

The investigation began on September 30, 2024, when a provincial traffic officer stationed at the Kinross weighbridge stopped a Toyota Hilux double cab loaded with copper cables. Instead of complying, the driver sped off, prompting a high-speed chase. The pursuit ended when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to overturn.

The Hawks were called to the scene and interrogated the three men found with the copper cables. When they failed to provide a credible explanation, they were taken into custody. Their statements later led to the arrest of another 40-year-old suspect.

A multidisciplinary task force—including the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime and Corruption Investigation units, Priority Crime Specialised Investigation, provincial traffic officers, Secunda K9, Local Criminal Record Centre, and Eskom Security—followed up on leads, which took them to a farm where an Eskom truck had reportedly delivered stolen copper cables. Upon arrival, authorities discovered that the cables had been stripped and burned. A thorough search of the premises uncovered more stolen cables.

Investigators then traced the stolen materials back to Tutuka Power Station, where further evidence pointed to the involvement of the station’s principal inspector, Refilwe Motloung. Her subsequent arrest led to the detention of her brother and brother-in-law in October 2024.

The latest arrest occurred on Wednesday, March 5. The suspect is set to appear before the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, March 6.

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