Richard Nyathi (61), Lucky Mvelase (42), Donovan Landman (41) and Mthokozisi Ndaba (39) appeared in the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 27 January 2021 on charges of possession of stolen copper cables.
They were arrested by members of the Newcastle Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit on Tuesday, 26 January 2021. The team conducted an intelligence driven operation after they received information about a vehicle allegedly transporting stolen copper cables, traveling from Ladysmith to Newcastle.
The said vehicle was spotted and stopped at an industrial area in Newcastle. Upon search, members recovered copper cables with an estimated value of R10 790, the seized cables were subjected to preliminary analysis.
The trio, Nyathi, Mvelase and Ndaba were immediately placed under arrest and charged for possession of property suspected to be stolen. Further investigation revealed that other copper cables were already sold to a local scrapyard.
The Hawks members proceeded to the identified address and Ladysmith municipality copper cables were positively identified. Landman, the scrapyard manager, was also charged for receiving stolen goods that are forming part of the essential infrastructure.
The case against Landman was postponed to the 03 March 2021 and he was released on a R2000 bail, whilst his co-accused remained in custody for a bail application scheduled for today, 28 January 2021.