In a significant breakthrough, the Hawks have arrested five suspects in connection with the theft of Vodacom batteries at a tower in Kruis River. Preliminary reports suggest that the thieves broke into the Vodacom facility and stole four batteries. The suspects were apprehended during a routine stop-and-search near Addo and Jansenville.
The police stopped a Datsun Go vehicle, and upon inspection, found it carrying undocumented foreign nationals. Further investigation revealed five bags filled with burglary tools, leading to the immediate arrest of all five individuals. They are expected to appear in the Jansenville Magistrate’s Court on Friday to face charges related to the theft.
In a separate case, a Malawian pastor, Mlotha Nelson Usale, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for running a criminal syndicate that targeted Vodacom and MTN towers between 2021 and 2022. Usale, a 59-year-old pastor at God’s Chapel Church, was found guilty of tampering with e-battery management systems. He would switch the batteries’ original casings and re-spray them, attempting to pass them off as commercial solar batteries. This fraudulent practice enabled him and his accomplices to steal the valuable batteries while concealing their origins. Usale was sentenced in August 2024 following a thorough investigation.
The dual arrests underscore ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat battery thefts that have affected telecommunications infrastructure, hindering service delivery in affected areas. As these cases unfold, both investigations highlight the vigilance of authorities in tackling sophisticated criminal activities and holding perpetrators accountable.
