According to the police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, members of Crime Intelligence, the Matjhabeng Municipality's Investigation Unit, and Odendaalsrus Visible Policing investigated information concerning an electrician who was involved in installing illegal copper cable in Hospital Park, Odendaalsrus, on 10 November 2022.

“A house was identified and approached, where an elderly woman granted [the team] permission to search the property. Copper cable belonging to the Matjhabeng Municipality, which was stolen from the Theronia Sewerage Plant, also known as the Waste Water Treatment Plant in Welkom, Kutloanong Sewerage Plant, which is currently under construction, and the Electrical Substation Number One in Odendaalsrus CBD was found,” he said.

He added that the Matjhabeng Municipality's Investigation Unit acknowledged that Welkom's Detective Services were looking into cases that had been registered. There was no evidence to support the origins of all of these municipal copper cables on this private property. A 67-year-old woman was detained for violating the Criminal Matters and Amendment Act 18/2015, the possession of suspected stolen copper cable, and the theft of copper cable.

Furthermore, the suspect will soon appear in the Odendaalsrus and Welkom Magistrate's Courts respectively.

Thakeng added that Major-General Lerato Molale, the District Commissioner of Lejweleputswa, says these seizures and arrests will send a clear message that the SAPS has zero tolerance for infrastructure destroyed during the holiday season and that locals are encouraged to join them in their effort to eradicate copper wire theft.

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