Kimberley : 25 January 2023 - The Provincial Commissioner for the Northern Cape, Lt Gen Koliswa Otola welcomed the copper bust worth about R3 million that was effected in Kimberley and Bloemhof, recently.
On 24 January 2023 at about 23:00 the Northern Cape SAPS Provincial Organised Crime unit followed up on information regarding stolen copper that was being transported in a Kombi on the N12 road. The multi-disciplinary action included the assistance of the Bloemhof SAPS and Transnet Security (SESS) who managed to flag down the Toyota Kombi on the N12 in Bloemhof.
The team confiscated approximately 2 tons of alleged Telkom copper cables that was stashed inside the vehicle. Further investigations led the team back to a residential area in Kimberley where one of the suspects' home was raided and police seized 2,5 tons of copper cables, alleged to be Telkom property and arrested two males. Police also confiscated the Toyota Kombi and a white Isuzu bakkie that was allegedly utilized in the commission of crime.
One of the arrested men is a scrap metal dealer in Kimberley and all the suspects are from originally Gauteng and Malawi.
The four male suspects are aged between 23 and 40 years old and charged with tampering/destroying/damaging of essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen copper and theft. The suspects will appear in court soon.
"Lt Gen Otola reiterated that one of her priorities is to combat the destruction of essential infrastructure and eradicate copper theft that has a huge impact on essential services and the economy of the country. We further extend our appreciation to the community and urge them to continue to provide information of criminals destroying essential infrastructure, Gen Otola said."