The SAPS in Gauteng arrested three City of Tshwane municipal employees on Tuesday morning for allegedly stealing a R7 million transformer from the Laudium electricity substation.
The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation that started in November 2024, in which 11 suspects were initially arrested.
Of those, 10 suspects were subcontractors and released due to a lack of evidence, while one municipal worker remains in custody and is scheduled for a court appearance on August 8, 2025.
Tshwane District Commissioner Samuel Thine said an investigation by the Gauteng Organised Crime Unit resulted in the arrest of three employees.
The suspects will face charges of theft of essential infrastructure and are due to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
“We are making inroads because essential infrastructure theft, as we know, cripples the economy of the country. It also cripples the households, where we run into a shortage of electricity, where this infrastructure is supposed to be taken to the right places, they are transferred somewhere else, in terms of thefts,” he said.
Thine said transformer theft was not a new occurrence in the metro, adding that while this case involving a large sum was specific to Tshwane, smaller transformer thefts had been reported in other areas.
He added that more arrests are expected as investigations continue.
City spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that the SAPS had arrested three municipal workers in connection with the attempted theft and vandalism of transformers at the Claudius substation in Laudium, which occurred last year.
He said the arrested individuals are reportedly employees linked to the incident, which severely compromised the city’s power infrastructure and security.
“The city welcomes this development and commends the SAPS for their swift and decisive action. Criminal acts such as theft and sabotage not only endanger public safety but also place unnecessary strain on municipal resources and disrupt essential services,” Mashigo said.
He said the arrests represent an important step towards ensuring accountability and deterrence.
“Our residents deserve uninterrupted services and infrastructure that is secure from deliberate damage and sabotage. As the matter is now being handled within the justice, crime prevention, and security cluster, the city will refrain from further comment at this stage to avoid compromising ongoing investigations,” he said.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za
