Durban — Three suspects are awaiting their next court date after they were arrested for possession of stolen property, copper cables valued at R1.2m, which were recovered during a multi-disciplinary operation outside Durban.
Police spokesperson, Lt-Col Nqobile Gwala, said that on Wednesday at 5pm, a multi-disciplinary operation was conducted at Mariannhill and Shallcross where the team was following up on information about people stealing copper cables and damaging essential infrastructure.
“The team proceeded to the railway lines between Mariannhill and Shallcross where two tons of copper cables valued at R1.2m were recovered,” Gwala said.
She said that Transnet and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa identified the copper cables as their property.
Gwala said that police searched the area for several kilometres before they reached Ekuphumuleni location where they spotted a house in which it was reported that the copper cables were stored.
They found two 34-year-old women inside the house and conducted a search.
“Following a search of the house, police discovered copper cables worth R500 000. Both women were arrested for possession of the stolen property” Gwala said.
She said that the team then proceeded to another house in the same location where they found a 47-year-old man.
“The police conducted a search inside and outside his house and they recovered copper cables valued at R700 000. The man was placed under arrest,” Gwala said.
“The trio appeared before the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on August 4, 2022, for possession of stolen property pending the next court date.”
In July 2022, three men, Ashlen Govender, Thembinkosi Khumalo and Mohamed James appeared in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on charges of possession of suspected stolen property and tampering with essential infrastructure.
The three were arrested on Friday, July 22, after they were found in possession of 18 cellphone tower batteries and 614kg of Telkom, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Transnet cables with an estimated value of R1m.
Copper cables, which belonged to Transnet, were recovered and weighed 614.5kg. A further search was conducted and 18 cellphone tower batteries were found concealed in a bag. The total value of the recovered property is estimated at R1m.
Daily News