Man arrested for allegedly stealing copper cables at Matimba power station
Police in Limpopo have arrested a man for allegedly tampering with essential infrastructure and possession of stolen property worth an estimated R100,000.
It’s alleged that security officers were patrolling at Matimba power station on Tuesday night when they realized that copper cables had been stolen from the conveyor belt machine that carries ash to the ash dump.
They reported the incident to local police, who immediately began tracing the suspects through tracks found on the scene of the crime.
“The next day, on Wednesday, 19 June 2024, at about 6 am, police discovered that the suspects were burning the stolen copper at a farm near Matimba power station. Police found new and old burned wires, including the remains of protective shield copper wires and a smoke of burned copper wires, which indicated that the suspects were still in the vicinity,” said police spokesperson Malesela Ledwaba.
The search continued until police encountered two men running in the bush and gave chase.
“During the chase, one suspect managed to evade an arrest but his accomplice was nabbed while in possession of a school bag containing some of the stolen copper cables and gloves,” Ledwaba added.
The man, a Zimbabwean national whose age is yet to be determined, is expected to appear in the Lephalale Magistrates Court on charges of tampering with essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen property.
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