In a significant breakthrough, police in Allanridge, Free State, have arrested six foreign nationals accused of stealing copper cables. The arrests were made on Monday following a tip-off about the alleged criminals' whereabouts. According to the police, the men were apprehended through collaborative efforts between the police and the Eyes & Ears (E2) public-private crime-fighting initiative. The suspects, aged between 26 and 48, face charges related to the possession of suspected stolen property.
The police received information at around 9 pm on Monday night that two vehicles traveling from Bothaville to Welkom were carrying stolen copper cables. The vehicles were stopped, and police found 560.85 kg of alleged stolen electrical wires, valued at an estimated R100,000. Preliminary investigations indicate that the stolen copper cables belong to Transnet in the North West province. The police seized the stolen cables, which is a significant recovery for the authorities.
The arrested men are expected to appear in the Odendaalrus Magistrate's Court soon. The police are continuing with their investigations to determine the extent of the syndicate's operations. The arrest is part of the SAPS' crime-fighting Operation Shanela, which was launched in 2023 under former Police Minister Bheki Cele's directive. The operation aims to combat crime and reduce the incidence of cable theft and infrastructure vandalism.
Operation Shanela II, relaunched at the start of 2025/2026, has seen the arrest of several suspects across the country in recent years. The initiative involves the deployment of police officers to identified crime hotspots. The police have been working to disrupt and dismantle syndicates involved in cable theft and other forms of infrastructure vandalism. The arrest of the six foreign nationals is a significant achievement for the authorities.
The issue of cable theft and infrastructure vandalism has been a major concern in South Africa. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has recommended electronic payments and five-year record-keeping for copper-scrap transactions as part of efforts to combat cable theft and infrastructure vandalism. The SAHRC's recommendations aim to reduce the incidence of cable theft and make it more difficult for stolen goods to be sold.
Eskom, the state-owned power utility, has also been affected by cable theft and infrastructure vandalism. The utility has recorded 505 arrests and reported a 13% decrease in infrastructure crime incidents in the year to March 2026. Estimated losses due to infrastructure crime dropped 18% to R191 million. Eskom's efforts to combat crime and reduce losses are ongoing.
The arrest of the six foreign nationals accused of stealing copper cables in the Free State is a significant achievement for the authorities. The police will continue to investigate and prosecute those involved in cable theft and infrastructure vandalism. The issue remains a major concern, and efforts to combat it will continue.
Key points
- Six foreign nationals arrested in Free State for allegedly stealing copper cables worth R100,000.
- Arrests made through collaborative efforts between police and Eyes & Ears public-private crime-fighting initiative.
- Stolen cables recovered, valued at an estimated R100,000, belong to Transnet in North West province.
