EASTERN CAPE - Eddington Ndhlalambi (45) appeared in the Peddie Magistrate Court on Monday, 13 February 2023 for charges of damage to essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen property.

He was arrested along with a 39 year-old accomplice on Saturday, 11 February 2023 when members of Grahamstown Highway patrol swiftly acted on received information about two motor vehicles which were travelling from Gqeberha towards King William’s Town carrying cell phone tower batteries.

The East London based Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) team of the Hawks together with Peddie Visible Police (VISPOL) members, King William’s Town Local Criminal Record Centre members and Peddie detectives were activated. Two vehicles matching the description provided were seen on N2 near Nobumba location.

Members gave chase, shots were fired and one of the two suspects who attempted to evade arrest sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital. Upon searching the vehicles, five (5) Vodacom Tower batteries worth R135 000-00 were found along with working tools allegedly used to steal the tower batteries. The two vehicles believed to have been used in the commission of a crime were also confiscated.

The case against Ndhlalambi was remanded to 15 February 2023 for bail application whilst his alleged accomplice recovers in hospital under police guard.

Source: South African Police Service