Durban - An Isipingo scrap yard dealer and his employee appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on a string of charges relating to the theft of copper from municipal sites.
They were arrested in the south of Durban area and charged for tampering/damaging/destroying essential infrastructure.
Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane, a KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson said the case was remanded for further investigation. He could not provide the names of the men at the time of publication.
"On 22 August 2019, a joint operation was conducted by various police units and other stakeholders at Isipingo, targeting second hand goods dealers. The team proceeded to a known scrap metal dealer and conducted compliance inspections,"Zwane said.
Police officers seized 235kg of copper belonging Prasa and the municipality. Zwane said estimated street value of the copper is R200,000-00.
Zwane said the property was positively identified by Prasa and eThekwini municipal officials.
The municipality has begun clamping down on crime and grime in the Isipingo area recently.