Police management in Mpumalanga have strongly condemned the actions of a group of people that resulted in the destruction of infrastructure belonging to ESKOM and surrounding mines. The condemnation comes after acts of lawlessness displayed by some unscrupulous people whereby properties worth millions of rands were damaged, leaving scores of nearby residents without electricity. These activities were carried out in Nkangala District in the past week.
According to information, a mine at the said place has ceased to operate and a process of rehabilitation had begun. The situation was unfortunately viewed by some unscrupulous criminals as an opportunity to steal and destroy the infrastructure thereof and in the process, also damaged an ESKOM infrastructure.
It is said these individuals reportedly engaged in an act of sabotage where they burnt ESKOM transformers so that they could have easy access at the mine and not be seen. Their actions resulted in parts of the area experiencing power/electricity outages for several days. Police were notified about the matter and on Friday, 19 February 2021, police went to the site and caught suspects busy stealing copper cables and steel.
Police then acted swiftly and arrested a total of 114 suspects on various charges, including trespassing, possession of suspected stolen properties, contravention of the Disaster Management Regulations by failing to confine to their places of residence, as well as contravention of the Illegal Immigration Acts.
Police also seized 20 vehicles believed to have been used in these illegal activities. The investigation is continuing and police cannot rule out possibilities of adding more charges to the suspects with regard to the sabotage and the damaged infrastructure.
The suspects have already appeared before court where six were granted bail whilst the remaining suspects are expected to apply for bail in their next court appearance on Monday, 1 March 2021.
The police management in the province indicated that such a situation cannot be allowed to continue like that where people go on rampage where they damage infrastructure and wreak havoc whilst stealing items from the mines and ESKOM.
Police has since intensified their operations around these affected areas.
