A High-Speed Chase and 400m of Cable: Lesotho National Nabbed in Mpumalanga Railway Heist

A 26-year-old Lesotho national is facing serious charges after being caught red-handed stealing copper cable from a crucial railway line in Mpumalanga, in an incident that escalated into a dramatic high-speed chase and vehicle crash.

According to police, the suspect and three accomplices were allegedly tampering with a railway line on a farm near Standerton on Friday when they were spotted by a private security patrol. The guards immediately called for backup. While three suspects fled, the Lesotho national was arrested on the spot, found with a bolt cutter and stolen cable.

In a bid to cooperate, the arrested suspect reportedly pointed out the group’s getaway vehicle. However, his accomplices managed to escape with it, heading towards Greylingstad.

A Chase and a Crash

Alerted by the security team, Greylingstad police located the vehicle, prompting a pursuit. The driver allegedly lost control, overturning the car. The occupants then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot before police could apprehend them.

Inside the overturned vehicle, authorities discovered approximately 402 metres of severed copper cable, allegedly cut from a railway line used for critical goods transport to the harbour. The damage is estimated at a staggering R150,000.

Economic Sabotage and Pending Court Date

Police emphasised that such thefts are not petty crimes but acts of economic sabotage, causing severe delays and financial losses in the logistics chain. The suspect is scheduled to appear in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing charges of tampering with essential infrastructure and contravening the Immigration Act.

The vehicle has been processed for forensic evidence, and police say further arrests are expected. Acting Mpumalanga Police Commissioner, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, condemned the attack on infrastructure and praised the security company’s vigilance. He urged the public to report any suspicious activity around railways and other essential installations, highlighting that community cooperation is key to protecting the country’s economic arteries from such costly, criminal damage.

{Source: IOL}

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