Copper worth R500k recovered by cops at the Roodepoort Recycling
GFIS received a tip-off from anonymous caller of a truck that was loading suspected stolen copper cable at the facility.
A joint operation between the City of Johannesburg’s Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS), along with Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and the Hawks arrested three suspects for copper theft and bribery at Roodepoort Recycling.
GFIS received a tip off from anonymous caller of a truck that was loading suspected stolen copper cable at the facility.
The joint-operation team raided the scrapyard and found a truck loading suspected stolen copper with an estimated street value of R500 000.
The driver was arrested for possession of suspected stolen copper cable. Some of the eight tons of copper has been identified as belonging to City Power. A further seven bags full of copper were found on the premises.
The owner of the scrap yard where the copper was found was also arrested for attempting to bribe law enforcement officers with R50 000. We have received information that the same owner had previously been convicted for copper theft and that yet another case of copper theft is currently pending against him.
The suspects will be detained at Roodepoort police station and will appear before the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court for bail application.
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Furthermore, on July 29, 2019, JMPD’s newly launched Integrated Intelligent Operation Centre (IIOC) Reaction arrested five suspects for cable theft.
The stolen copper cables, with an estimated value of R60 000, were already cut into 206 pieces of 2 metre each.
All five suspects are detained at Joburg Central SAPS to face prosecutions. In order to combat the criminal syndicates responsible for cable theft, the City introduced a specialised JMPD unit whose exclusive focus will be to target these copper cable syndicates.
The work of combatting these syndicates requires a professionalised approach of a dedicated unit with the knowledge, skills and networks to be effective. For us to win the war against cable theft, a collaborative effort is required from all the role players involved.
National and Provincial Government must step in and ensure that the South African Police Service (SAPS) works with our specialised JMPD unit so as to ensure that we crack down on these syndicates, and that suspects who are found to be guilty are not only arrested, but also successfully prosecuted.
Corruption has no place in this administration and we will work tirelessly, and in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, to ensure that the residents of Johannesburg receive the quality services they deserve.
I would also like to encourage people to report any fraud and corruption activities through our 24hour tipoff hotline 0800 002 587 or visit the GFIS offices situated at 48 Ameshoff Street in Braamfontein. Report from Executive Mayor, Cllr Herman Mashaba.
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