DURBAN - Nine men will appear before the Newcastle magistrate’s court on Monday on charges of tampering with, and damaging essential infrastructure following their arrest last week in Charlestown, between Newcastle and Volksrust in KwaZulu-Natal.
At 3am on Sunday, police officers were patrolling the N11 in the Charlestown policing area when they spotted a suspicious person at a Transnet tunnel in Amajuba.
Provincial spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala said the police conducted further investigations and were joined by security officers.
“The suspect was seen cutting overhead rail cable from the line within the tunnel. The suspect was placed under arrest for damaging and tampering with the essential infrastructure,” said Gwala, adding that more suspects were also arrested later on.
“Further investigation led police to a taxi where eight more accomplices were arrested. Police seized stolen copper which weighed 180 kg. The recovered copper is valued at R350 000-00,” said Gwala.
Police said the arrested suspects, aged between 28 and 43, would also be profiled to see if they were linked to other cases reported in Charlestown and surrounding areas.
The matter will be investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks).
