They were arrested on Tuesday (18/8) after electrical infrastructure was recovered at Centlec’s premises in Oranjesig, Bloemfontein. Security guards had received an anonymous tip-off that suspected stolen copper cables and meter boxes were hidden in sports bags allegedly belonging to refuse collectors near the power utility’s premises.

Centlec acting spokesperson Tseliso Leba said security personnel stopped a municipal waste collection truck leaving through the green gate at about 12:00. The occupants agreed to a security-procedure search, during which 48 meter boxes with keypads were allegedly found hidden in four sports bags.

The municipal refuse truck that was searched for stolen Centlec equipment. Photo supplied

Additional electrical infrastructure, including copper cables, electrical fuses and Airdac cables, was allegedly found in black refuse bags inside the truck. Four suspects were detained and handed over to police for further investigation. They are facing charges of theft and tampering with essential infrastructure. The investigation is ongoing.

Leba commended Centlec security personnel and investigators for working together to protect critical electrical infrastructure and the utility’s assets. He said theft and vandalism remain ongoing problems, causing power disruptions and adding pressure to Centlec’s financial and operational resources.

'Police recovered stolen cable from beneath a bed'

The latest arrests follow several other cases involving alleged tampering with Centlec infrastructure. Dieketseng Chere was arrested on 19 July during a joint operation by police crime prevention officers and Centlec armed response, after a case of tampering with essential infrastructure was opened at Mangaung police station.

Acting on information about a suspect who had allegedly fled the scene, police reportedly recovered a 12m Airdac copper cable hidden beneath a bed in a shack. The cable is commonly used to connect a property to an electricity network.

A Centlec employee was also arrested in June following an investigation into alleged theft and vandalism of essential infrastructure in Bloemfontein. Two streetlight fittings valued at R27,619.86 were recovered at a private residence in the Bloemspruit area during that investigation.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi   cvdw

• Have a news tip to share? Phone or whatsapp the OFM News Hotline: 066 487 1427.