The law has finally caught up with an alleged copper cable theft syndicate in the Western Cape, the Directorate for Priority Crime (the Hawks) said on Wednesday.
Hawks spokesman Lloyd Ramovha said six suspects are facing racketeering and money laundering charges and their case is expected to be transferred to the Beaufort West Regional Court next month.
Amos Ngubeni, 32, Wilson Khoza, 33, Samuel Ngwenya, 34, Linda James Malope, 34, Simon Thembe, 40, and Malome Alfred Matsetsela, 41, allegedly stole copper cables valued at approximately R3.5 million.
Ramovha said two of the suspects were first arrested in Prins Albert in November 2012 when they were caught in the act of stealing copper cables. They pleaded guilty in court and paid an admission of guilt fine.
“The remaining suspects who are already inmates on other cases were arrested recently following a completion of an investigative project by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Unit, which uncovered that the group, originally from Gauteng, formed part of a wider syndicate allegedly involved in theft of copper cables nationally,” Ramovha said.
The men allegedly used vehicles with fitted yellow warning lights, wore reflector jackets and posed as road maintenance workers. They allegedly targetted remote areas. The cables were allegedly taken to a scrap metal yard near Germiston for processing.
Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Western Cape, Brigadier Mzwandile Ndlovu, praised the investigating team: “This augurs well for our continued fight against Serious Organised Crime. Those who have committed acts of criminality and think they have taken refuge in our prisons, be warned, nothing gets swept under the carpet, we will hold you accountable”.
The suspects are expected to appear in court again on May 30.