An attempt to steal infrastructure from a rail freight depot in Gqeberha was thwarted when police arrested 21 suspects at the Swartkops site on Monday.
Transnet said the SA Police Service made the arrests following prompt action by its security personnel, who spotted trespassers on the premises.
“The suspects were found hiding with several bags filled with the following stolen items: copper bus bars, transformers, electrical switches, copper cables and electrical cables, which collectively have an estimated value of about R350 000,” Transnet said.
In a separate incident on Wednesday, police arrested five suspects and recovered copper cable worth approximately R3 million at an unregistered scrapyard in De Deur, Gauteng.
“This followed an intelligence-driven operation by a multidisciplinary team, which led them to a scrapyard in De Deur. The team discovered large quantities of copper cable and seized homemade stoves, reportedly used to burn the copper,” Transnet said.
The rail and ports operator said a preliminary investigation had established that the copper cable belonged to Transnet.
The five suspects are expected to appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court where they will face charges of possession of stolen infrastructure, dealing with second-hand goods without a licence, and contravening the Immigration Act.
Transnet CEO, Michelle Phillips, said the arrests highlighted the success of the collaboration between the security personnel and law enforcement agencies.
“Our work is beginning to make serious inroads in dismantling the destructive criminal syndicates targeting essential infrastructure. We will continue to focus on fighting crimes which are responsible for the destruction of our essential infrastructure.”
Meanwhile, Transnet said it also welcomed the successful conviction and sentencing of three cable theft criminals.
The individuals were prosecuted and sentenced by the Molteno Regional Court in the Eastern Cape on August 27 for theft of copper cables, possession of stolen copper and contravention of the Immigration Act.
The case was linked to an incident that occurred in December 2021, when police and Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager security received intelligence-driven information regarding vehicles transporting stolen copper cable theft in the Stormberg area.
The court handed down sentences of 15 years of jail time for the theft and possession of copper cables and a further three months imprisonment for breach of the Immigration Act to each of the suspects. The investigation was led by the Komani-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation of the Hawks.
“These successes illustrate the impact of collaboration with SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority, State Security Agency, Eskom, PRASA, and other state entities, including the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development,” said Transnet.
