Three City of Tshwane officials accused of stealing R7-million worth of infrastructure from the Laudium substation in Pretoria will remain behind bars after their bail application was denied on Wednesday.
The three suspects were arrested on Tuesday and appeared in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court in connection with the theft of transformers last year. The court ruled that they remain in custody as investigations continue.
Links to Larger Syndicate
Police allege that the trio is part of a broader criminal syndicate involved in infrastructure theft, with more arrests expected. “We are pursuing additional suspects connected to this network,” a police spokesperson said.
However, the accused’s legal team maintains their clients’ innocence. One lawyer expressed confidence that bail would eventually be granted, citing precedent. “He will get bail. This matter has been before the court before, and previous accused were granted bail under similar circumstances,” the attorney argued.
Next Court Appearance
The case has been postponed to Friday, when the suspects will formally apply for bail. Authorities continue to investigate the extent of the syndicate’s operations, as infrastructure theft remains a major challenge for municipalities.
For now, the three officials remain in custody as the legal process unfolds.
