NELSPRUIT – Police routine patrols paid off when a minibus with passengers was stopped and searched in the N4 Machadodorp Road yesterday, Monday 21 November 2022 at about 18:20.

Two (25 litres) containers as well as two school bags with 48.23 kg of copper cables valued at R9 000-00 (street value) which was reportedly concealed beneath the seats was confiscated. Three suspects who reportedly boarded the minibus in Waterval Boven were said to be the owners of the luggage.

The trio, one South African national and two Mozambican nationals aged between 18 and 31 were arrested by the team of members from Visible Policing and Detective Services led by the Station Commander whilst conducting the 2022/2023 Safer Festive Season Operations.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the copper cables belongs to Transnet and it was allegedly stolen from the railway line in Waterval Boven. The suspects are expected to appear at the Emakhazeni Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 23 November 2022. They will all be appearing on charges of illegal possession of copper cables. In the meantime police are working with the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain the status of the two in the Republic.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela applauded the team for outstanding work done. The General further indicated that damage to essential infrastructure costs the country fortunes, and the public should expect more of such operations rolled out as law enforcement agencies address this challenge.

Source: South African Police Service