Four suspects aged between 41 and 50 were arrested on 27 July 2022 during a multi-disciplinary operation executed by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in Bellville together with Crime Intelligence Winelands Cluster, Gans Bay and Struisbaai detectives, Eskom and Combined Private Investigation officials on a warrant of arrest for alleged theft of copper cable worth about R306 065-00 in the Bredasdorp area.
This comes after information was received about possible cobber cable theft. Upon operationalizing the information received, rolls of Eskom copper cables were found in November 2021 respectively weighing 840kg and 624kg.
The copper cables were found in the possession of one of the ex-employees of Eskom, who was a Senior Supervisor in charge of the Bredasdorp Customer Network Centre. Her husband, who is an ex police official is an accomplice in the matter.
Preliminary investigation by the Hawks revealed that the copper cable was stolen from Eskom Customer Network Centre in Bredasdorp which was confirmed by Eskom, further investigation revealed that the suspects started selling the stolen copper cables to the local scrap yard from April 2021.
They are expected to appear in the Bredasdorp Magistrate’s Court, tomorrow 28 July 2022 for charges of fraud and theft.
