Seven in custody over copper cables

THABAZIMBI – Seven people were arrested in the early hours of Monday 23 February on charges of possession of stolen property when they were caught with R12 000’s worth of copper cable.
Of the seven, one is from Regorogile, presumable one of the masterminds behind an ongoing copper cable theft network, one from Brits and the others are Mozambican citizens living in a squatter camp called Matjakaneng near Brits.
The sindicate behind the cutting and stealing of copper cables have been “collecting” copper cables for over a period of two weeks from Kumba premises and surrounding farms. Once enough copper cable is collected a transport vehicle collects and transports the copper cable to the buyer, who in this case has not been identified or arrested.
Two vehicles, a white sedan and a blue bakkie, with the suspects and copper cables were apprehended on their way to Koedoeskop at about 04:00 on Monday morning. Twelve rolls of copper cable, weighing about 70 kg, were found in the back of the bakkie.
The suspects have appeared in court on Wednesday 25 February but the case has been remanded until Wednesday 4 March.