Off-duty members of the Fezile Dabi District Infrastructure Task Team arrested two suspects and recovered an estimated R1.8 million in suspected stolen copper cable following an interception on the N1 highway on Wednesday, 17 June 2026.
At approximately 19:00, task team members on their rest days received a tip-off regarding a truck loaded with copper cable originating from Welkom. The intelligence indicated the vehicle was en route to a known scrapyard in Kroonstad to load additional copper cable.
Acting on the information, the team located the truck travelling towards Gauteng on the N1 highway and intercepted it just past the Vaal Toll Plaza. A preliminary inspection of the vehicle’s first container revealed it was loaded with bags of copper cable.
The truck and the two male suspects, aged 27 and 59, were transported to the Sasolburg SAPS for processing. During a secondary inspection at the police station, officers discovered a second container holding additional copper cable concealed beneath bags of crushed aluminium cans. The total value of the confiscated copper cable is estimated at R1.8 million.
The suspects face charges of tampering with and damaging essential infrastructure, possession of suspected stolen property, and possession of suspected stolen copper cable. They are scheduled to appear in the Parys Magistrate’s Court soon.