Five people arrested in connection with copper cable theft on Thursday, 17 February were released on bail on Friday, 18 February as their case is remanded to next month in March.
The accused, Andries Jacobus Jordan (54), Jan Ntshidi (47), Zweli Nxanga (31), Tsietsi Lucas Morobe (41), Hilton Dannis Wall (64) appeared before the Parys Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 18 February where they faced charges of theft, possession of suspected stolen properties and tampering with essential infrastructure.
According to Hawks spokesperson in Free State Christopher Singo, the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in Thabong together with the police unit K9 based in Sasolburg and the Provincial Designated Second Hand Goods Official (DSO), Telkom, Eskom, Transnet, MTN, conducted a disruptive operation in Parys at identified scrap metals that are alleged to have receive stolen property.
“Police and the stakeholders visited Salvage Junkie Scrap Metal where they discovered Eskom copper cable, Eskom aluminium, Telkom copper cable, Municipality cable to the estimated value of more than R60 000,” said Singo.
“While officials were busy searching the scrap metal three security guards watching over Eskom premises came with stolen copper cables to the estimated value of R8 000 which was discovered that it was stolen at Eskom premises,” he said.
Captain Singo said the case will continue next month for further investigation.
The alleged mastermind behind the thuggery motive, Jordan was granted R5 000 bail. while the other accused were granted R2000 bail each.
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