A truck driver has been arrested and his truck confiscated after being found transporting suspected stolen copper cables on the R53 road near Hennenman in the Free State.
According to police, officers intercepted the MAN truck about ten kilometres outside Hennenman on Tuesday morning, 19 August 2025, at around 08:05. During the stop, the driver was asked to provide documentation proving legal possession of the cargo. After failing to account for the load, he was arrested.
Police confirmed that 17 860 tons of copper cables were recovered, with an estimated street value of R3 million, alongside the confiscated truck. The 43-year-old suspect is facing charges of damage to essential infrastructure and is expected to appear before the Hennenman Magistrate’s Court soon.
Cable theft continues to disrupt South Africa’s infrastructure and logistics sectors, affecting rail, electricity, and communication networks. Recoveries like this are critical to safeguarding essential services and the economy.
Read | Cops recover hijacked truck and stolen copper cables, nab suspect in Gqeberha
A stain on trucking
Law-abiding truck drivers have long complained that such incidents unfairly tarnish the reputation of the industry. “Every time a truck gets caught in crimes like this, the rest of us feel the heat,” said one Durban-based driver. “We get stopped more often, treated with suspicion, and it slows us down on already tough routes.”
For many operators, criminal cases like this add another layer of strain in an industry already battling high fuel costs, tolls, and long delays at ports. Truckers warn that rogue operators involved in theft not only break the law but also damage the reputation of the whole profession.
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