POTCHEFSTROOM – Police in the province remain steadfast in the fight against tampering with and damage to critical infrastructure. It is for this reason that Mario Mulanga (41) and Justice Sithole (25) are expected to make a second appearance in the Hartbeesfontein Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 19 July 2022, for possession of copper cables.
It is alleged that Sannieshof police sensitised their counterparts in Hartbeesfontein and Klerksdorp about a suspicious white Isuzu bakkie vehicle loaded with copper cables and driving towards Klerksdorp on Wednesday afternoon, 13 July 2022.
The said vehicle was ultimately spotted and stopped on the R503 (Hartbeesfonrein / Coligny) road near Hartbeesfontein for a search. Consequent to the search, copper cables worth R10 000-00 were found in the vehicle. As a result, Mulanga and Sithole were arrested after failing to account for the possession. The pair will also be processed as suspected undocumented persons.
Meanwhile, the copper cables were positively identified as those of Eskom and stolen in Sannieshof.
In another incident in Bloemhof, two suspects were on Friday, 15 July 2022, arrested for tampering with essential infrastructure.
It is alleged that members of Community In Blue, noticed two unknown males entering into a manhole with their tools. The vigilant and law abiding citizens who are also working with the police in the fight against crime, reported the incident. The police responded swiftly and found the suspects busy cutting the cable. The suspects who are Lesotho and Zimbabwean foreign nationals respectively, were arrested. They will also be processed as suspected undocumented persons after failing to produce documents.
The suspects are expected to appear before the Bloemhof Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 18 July 2022.
The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena applauded both the police and members of the Community In Blue for their vigilance and cooperation which led to the successes.
Source: South African Police Service