On Tuesday, 03 February 2026, the Middelburg Flying Squad and Anti-Hijacking Team intercepted a vehicle and arrested three suspects.
At approximately 05:35, officers patrolling the N4 near the Olifants River toll gate spotted a suspicious Toyota Fortuner with Mpumalanga plates heading toward Johannesburg. The vehicle was stopped at the N12 split.
A search revealed 11 bags of copper cable and two bags of bronze. The occupants failed to provide documentation for the materials.
During the arrest, the suspects offered a R16,500 bribe for their release. Police refused and added a bribery charge.
The recovered metals weighed 345 kg of copper and 58 kg of bronze, valued at R85,000.
The suspects, aged 31 to 36, were detained and will appear in the Witbank Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 04 February 2026, on charges of possession of suspected stolen property and bribery.
