Six suspects between the ages of 28 and 47 were arrested on 19 September 2026 for the theft of copper cables and malicious damage to property at the Strategic Fuel Fund site in Plattekloof. The suspects gained access to the facility, which is a designated National Key Point, by cutting through the perimeter fencing at two separate locations.
According to a dated media release from the South African Police Service (SAPS) Western Cape, the stolen copper cables were valued at approximately R110,000, while the damage caused to the property is estimated at R60,000. The case has been handed over to the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State unit due to the security implications of targeting national infrastructure.
During patrols at the National Key Point, Strategic Fuel Fund in Plattekloof, officers came across the men carrying bags. When the suspects noticed the officers, they threw the bags down and fled.
The six men were taken into custody following the incident and were scheduled to appear in the Parow Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 21 September 2026. The charges they face include theft and malicious damage to property, with investigators now working to determine if the suspects are linked to a wider syndicate operating in the Northern Suburbs.
Copper cable theft remains a persistent economic burden in the Western Cape, frequently causing widespread power outages and disrupting essential services. Because the Plattekloof site is a National Key Point, the investigation is subject to stricter legal protocols regarding the protection of strategic infrastructure.
While initial reports linked the incident to digging, this claim remains unverified by SAPS; official records confirm the suspects entered through breaches in the fence. We are continuing to monitor court proceedings and will check back for further updates following the suspects’ initial appearance in the Parow Magistrate’s Court.