KWAZULU-NATAL – On Saturday 12 March 2022, Hawks members from Newcastle Serious Organised Crime Investigation, working together with Charlestown police members and private security company, arrested nine suspects aged between 28 and 43 for damaged to essential infrastructure.

It is alleged that private security guards received a call from their control room about power failure between Laingsnek and Charlestown at Amajuba railway line. They proceeded to the area and conducted patrols. Whilst patrolling they noticed eight unknown suspects who were busy removing copper cables from the railway line and placing them next to the road.

Security guards kept an observation and contacted the local police. In the process a white taxi arrived and the suspects loaded the copper cables in the boot. While the suspects were busy loading, police and the security guards pounced on them. They were arrested and charged for damage to essential infrastructure. Copper cables weighing 180kg worth an estimated R27 900-00 were recovered.

They are expected to appear in the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court today.

Source: South African Police Service