Caught in the act: Lesotho national arrested for R150,000 railway cable theft in Mpumalanga
Police in Mpumalanga have arrested a 26-year-old Lesotho national for allegedly tampering with essential infrastructure after he was caught stealing copper cables from a railway line near Standerton.
According to the South African Police Service, the suspect and three accomplices were allegedly stealing copper cables from a railway line on a farm on Friday when private security guards spotted them and immediately called for backup.
Three of the suspects managed to flee the scene, but the Lesotho national was arrested while in possession of a bolt cutter and copper cables. He reportedly told security guards which vehicle the group had used and offered to point out where it was parked, but the remaining suspects escaped with the vehicle, heading towards Greylingstad.
Police in Greylingstad were alerted and later spotted the vehicle, leading to a high-speed chase. The driver allegedly lost control and overturned the vehicle, after which the occupants fled on foot before police arrived. About 402 metres of copper cable were recovered from inside the vehicle.
Police said the cable was allegedly cut from a railway line used to transport goods to the harbour, with the damage estimated at R150,000. Authorities warned that such incidents have a serious impact on the economy due to delays in the transportation of goods.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing charges of tampering with essential infrastructure and contravening the Immigration Act.
The vehicle involved was processed by the Local Criminal Record Centre, and police said further arrests are expected. Railway lines, particularly in remote areas, remain frequent targets for copper theft.
Acting Mpumalanga SAPS provincial commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi condemned acts of tampering with essential infrastructure and praised the security company for its swift response, which led to the arrest.
He appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities related to infrastructure sabotage to the police or other law enforcement agencies.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News