The case of the three City of Tshwane municipal workers arrested on Tuesday for allegedly stealing a transformer worth around R7 million at the Laudium electricity substation has been postponed to Friday for a formal bail application.

The suspects appeared in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after being arrested by the SAPS as part of an ongoing investigation linking them to the theft of a transformer last year.

The trio, Sphiwe Mahlangu, 45, Thomas Baloyi, 41, and Daniel Kubayi, 50, appeared in court on charges of theft of essential infrastructure and will remain in custody pending their next court appearance.

The SAPS in Gauteng reported that the arrest is part of an ongoing investigation launched in November 2024, which initially led to the arrest of 11 suspects.

Of these, 10 subcontractors were released due to a lack of evidence, while one municipal worker remains in custody and is set to appear in court on August 8, 2025.

The Gauteng Organised Crime Unit’s investigation led to the arrest of three municipal employees, according to police. 

They also said transformer theft is not a new issue in the metro, and while this case involves a large sum specific to Tshwane, smaller transformer thefts have been reported elsewhere. 

Police expect more arrests as investigations continue.

Tshwane district Commissioner, Major General Samuel Thine, said police are making progress because theft of essential infrastructure cripples the country’s economy and affects households, leading to electricity shortages when the infrastructure is stolen and diverted.

The city said the arrested individuals are employees linked to the incident, which significantly compromised the power infrastructure and security. 

Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the arrests are a crucial step towards accountability and deterrence, emphasising that residents deserve uninterrupted services and infrastructure protected from deliberate damage and sabotage.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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