R3 million copper cable bust: Five suspects nabbed in De Deur

In a major crackdown on non-ferrous metal theft and infrastructure-related crimes, police recovered copper cable worth an estimated R3 million at an unregistered scrapyard in De Deur. Five undocumented foreign nationals were arrested.

On 3 September, a joint team comprising the Sedibeng Infrastructure Unit, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, and private security companies acted on intelligence that led them to the scrapyard. There, authorities discovered large quantities of copper cable and seized homemade stoves reportedly used to burn the copper.

Preliminary investigations confirmed the stolen copper belonged to Transnet, which positively identified the recovered infrastructure. The five suspects are expected to appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court soon on charges including possession of stolen infrastructure, unlicensed dealing in second-hand goods, and contravention of the Immigration Act.