Twenty-five Chinese nationals are appearing in the Lutzville Magistrate’s Court today following a major police operation earlier this week.
The arrests stem from a tip-off received by Lutzville South African Police Service (SAPS) members on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Information indicated that a truck was loading copper cables at an address on Piksteel Street in Koekenaap. The truck was allegedly destined to offload the cargo in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.
Police responded immediately to the address. Upon arrival, they intercepted the operation and apprehended 25 suspects on the scene. A subsequent police investigation established that the seized copper cables belong to the national power utility, Eskom. The exact value of the stolen cables has not yet been determined.
The suspects include 24 males, aged between 24 and 50, and one 39-year-old female. All were detained on charges of possession of presumed stolen property. Their court appearance today marks the next step in the legal proceedings.