JOHANNESBURG – One of the four suspects accused of stealing copper cables worth R2-million from the IT centre of the Johannesburg City Council in Braamfontein, will appear in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The police arrested the suspect on Monday in Olivienhoutbosch, north of Johannesburg whilst the other three suspects were arrested last week and denied bail in the same court on Monday.
City of Johannesburg’s IT nerve centre was left paralysed following the theft and authorities say they want the suspects to face the full might of the law.
“Most of our systems are down, we are not operating to our full capacity and I hope the culprits pay the price.”
The four suspects allegedly gained access to the centre through an emergency exit door on the ground floor before breaking down the door leading to a storeroom where contractors keep their tools.
The state alleges the criminals took grinding machines and extension cords which they used to cut the cables inside the centre.
The incident happened on Saturday 11 November and the stolen cables have since been recovered at a scrapyard in Develand, south of Johannesburg.
The mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba confirmed that the cables were only sold for R20,000 to the scrapyard owner.
Mashaba says more arrests are imminent and blamed scrapyards for purchasing products without full proof of ownership.
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