Bloemfontein - Three officials at the Sol Plaatje municipality in Kimberley have been caught with allegedly stolen copper cables, a municipal spokesman said on Wednesday.
“Three of our employees were arrested by members of the police, who were patrolling near a scrap metal dealer,” said Sello Matsie.
The men, employees in the municipality's electricity department, were found in possession of copper cables and aluminium cables weighing more than 26kg. Scrap yard personnel valued the goods at R169.
Matsie said the electricity department had recorded losses running into thousands of rand in the past five years. Suspected copper thieves had also died.
Sol Plaatje executive mayor Kagisho Molusi applauded the police for their work. He also expressed his disappointment at the officials.
“The equipment and vehicles of the municipality are to service the community and not ourselves,” he said.
Matsie said an internal disciplinary hearing would be conducted.
Sapa