The recovery was made at a residence in Sesing Street, Batho, on Monday (9/11), following an anonymous tip-off from a resident about the suspected possession of stolen electrical infrastructure. The operation was conducted by Centlec security in collaboration with police, crime intelligence, and other operational stakeholders, said Centlec acting spokesperson Tsheliso Leba.

“A coordinated operation involving police, crime intelligence, and Centlec investigators was initiated to address the suspected theft and misappropriation of electrical infrastructure.

“During the operation, one of Centlec’s employees, an artisan assistant in the power failure section, was found in possession of electrical items and components suspected to have been misappropriated from the organisation.”

Preliminary investigations indicate that the items were allegedly intended to be returned to Centlec but were instead diverted for personal gain. Stolen cables were allegedly burned to remove their outer sheathing before they could be disposed of, Leba added.

The recovered items included copper cables, Airdac cables, cable clamps, fuses, and fuse carriers. 

A Centlec supervisor was summoned to the scene and positively identified the recovered items as belonging to the power utility.

Some of the alleged stolen Centlec items seized. Photo supplied

A case of cable theft and tampering with essential infrastructure was registered at Batho police station. The suspect remains in police custody and is expected to appear before the Batho Magistrate’s Court for a bail application.

Internal disciplinary proceedings had also been instituted against the employee in accordance with Centlec’s policies and procedures, Leba said.

In August, four suspects were arrested on charges of theft and tampering with essential infrastructure after Centlec electrical equipment valued at R110,000 was recovered from a refuse truck.

The equipment was recovered at Centlec’s premises in Oranjesig, Bloemfontein, after security guards received an anonymous tip-off that suspected stolen copper cables and meter boxes were hidden in sports bags allegedly belonging to refuse collectors.

In June, another Centlec employee was arrested following an investigation into the alleged theft and vandalism of essential infrastructure in Bloemfontein. 

Two streetlight fittings valued at R27,620 were recovered at a private residence in the Bloemspruit area during that investigation.

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