SA syndicate nailed for theft of Swazi copper wire

MBABANE – Swazi police arrested three people last week trying to enter SA in possession of copper wire identified as the property of the Swaziland Electricity Corporation (SEC) and valued at R1.3 million. For years Swaziland has been “plagued,” according to an SEC spokesman, by the theft of copper wire. The country’s telephone infrastructure has also been disabled by the theft of wire and telecommunications components. FTW has reported that up to a quarter of Swaziland has been without power or phone service on a single occasion due to such thefts. Last week’s arrests suggest that previous theories that the wire was sold locally for scrap may be replaced by evidence that an SA crime syndicate could be responsible. Customs officials grew suspicious that a large consignment of “scrap metal” transported by truck was worth more than the R3500 declared by its transporters when they sought to enter SA through Oshoek border post. A customs inspector noticed new pipe and taps amongst the wire. Police detained the driver and passenger while SEC officials arrived to declare the copper wire belonged to them. The plumbing supplies were traced to the Swaziland Water Services Corporation (SWSC), which identified the stolen property as its own but was unable to declare a value. One media report said the value of the consignment was likely over R2 million. A spokesman for SEC said it was not possible to immediately say where its copper wire was stolen. “We experience theft of wire almost on a daily basis. This has been responsible for disruptions to businesses, homes and emergency services. It has also led to loss of life, such as when a man was electrocuted trying to steal a live wire in November,” said Stephen Dlamini, SEC spokesman. INSERT One media report said the value of the consignment was likely over R2 million.