As the officials from different policing forums were busy performing patrols duties in Belfast town and its surroundings. The team received information about a group of people who were allegedly dealing in copper cables and that the cables were said to be hidden at Old Location in Belfast.

Four suspects aged between 32 and 38 were been arrested for tampering with essential infrastructure on 18 March 2023 in Belfast.

The team responded swiftly to the matter and upon arrival at a certain address, they found copper cables hidden under the beds from four separate rooms.

After failing to give proper explanation on how the cable landed in their rooms, they were locked up as well as charged for tampering with essential infrastructure.

Further investigation revealed that, amongst the suspects, two are foreign nationals from Zimbabwe and one from the Kingdom of Eswatini whilst one is a South African.

The three foreign nationals appeared at the Belfast Magistrate’s Court on Friday for Contravening of the Immigration Act of South Africa. The two were remanded in custody and they will appear again in the same court alongside the South African national, all facing charges of tampering with essential infrastructure.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has warned against tampering of essential infrastructure as this often have negative impact as many communities bear the consequences of deprived of services.