Three suspects including an employee of a sub-contractor at Eskom were arrested for stealing copper cables at the ailing power utility. The 31-year-old male suspect who is an employee of a maintenance company contracted to Eskom at Medupi and Matimba Power Plants, and his two accomplices aged 31 and 47 are expected to appear before the Lephalale Magistrate Court on Monday 19 June.
CHARGES
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the three facing charges of tampering with essential infrastructure at Medupi Power Station. Ledwaba explained that police were alerted of a theft incident at the Medupi plant. " Eskom copper cables worth more than R150 000 at the power plant were stolen on Tuesday 13 June. The next day, the police started with the initial investigations together with the Eskom security team," said Ledwaba.
A TRAP
Ledwaba said upon investigation police discovered the stolen copper cables in nearby bushes and knew the suspects would be back. "The investigation team set up a trap with a view to arresting the thieves who were expected to come back for collection of the copper cables. Four suspects indeed arrived on foot at the power plant to collect the cables on Wednesday just before midnight and upon discovering that they were being observed, they evaded an arrest by running in different directions and disappeared in the bushes, "said Ledwaba. He said police launched a manhunt for the suspects on the premises until they managed to come across one of the suspects next to the railway line driving a Kia Picanto. "They tried to stop him but he sped off. A car chase ensued until the motor vehicle was cornered and he was immediately placed under arrest. He cooperated with the team and left with the police to an informal Settlement that was situated a few kilometers outside the power plant where two more suspects were apprehended at their residences in the early hours of Thursday morning. The fourth suspect was not found at the informal settlement and the police are still searching for him," said Ledwaba.
