Part of a syndicate, who have appeared in the Beaufort West Magistrate’s Court on a charge of stealing R3.5 million worth of copper cables, will also face racketeering and money-laundering charges in the Beaufort West Regional Court on May 30.
Amos Ngubeni, 32, Wilson Khoza, 33, Samuel Ngwenya, 34, Linda James Malope, 34, Simon Thembe, 40, and Malome Alfred Matsetsela, 41, remain in custody, said provincial acting head of the Hawks, Brigadier Mzwandile Ndlovu.
He said police arrested two of the accused in November 2012, when they were caught stealing copper cables in Prince Albert. They had pleaded guilty in court and paid admission of guilt fines.
The rest, who were already jailed on various cases, were arrested recently following the completion of an investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crimes Unit.
It discovered that the group, originally from Gauteng, formed part of a wider syndicate allegedly involved in the theft of copper cables nationally.
Ndlovu said their modus operandi allegedly involved using vehicles with fitted yellow warning lights, wearing reflector jackets and appearing to be road maintenance workers cutting cables.
The loot would be transported to Malvern near Germiston at a scrap metal yard, registered under Matsetela, for further processing.