DE DEUR – In a coordinated effort to combat crimes involving non-ferrous metals and essential infrastructure, police have recovered stolen copper cable worth approximately R3m at an unregistered scrapyard. Five undocumented foreign nationals were arrested during the operation.
The bust took place yesterday (September 3) when a team comprising the Sedibeng Infrastructure Unit, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, and private security companies acted on intelligence that led them to the illegal scrapyard.
According to Sedibeng District police spokesperson Sergeant Thembeka Maxambela, officers discovered a large quantity of copper cable along with homemade stoves, allegedly used to burn insulation off the stolen wire.
“Preliminary investigations confirmed that the recovered cable belongs to Transnet, who positively identified it.”
The suspects face multiple charges, including possession of stolen infrastructure, dealing with second hand goods without a license, and contravening the Immigration Act. They are expected to appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court.
