Six arrested, R500 000 in copper cables seized after K9 unit chases down minibus on the N2
Police say the white Mercedes-Benz was linked to an armed robbery at Eskom in the Nxuba Industrial Area on 22 October, and Eskom employees identified the recovered cables as the stolen property.
Six suspects are in custody and copper cables valued at about R500 000 are back in Eskom’s hands after a Gqeberha police dog unit chased down a minibus on the N2 in the early hours of Friday, 30 October 2026.
The South African Police Service said the Gqeberha K9 Unit received information about a white Mercedes-Benz minibus travelling towards Gqeberha. The vehicle was allegedly linked to an armed robbery at Eskom in the Nxuba Industrial Area on 22 October 2026.
At about 06:00, K9 members spotted the vehicle on the N2 in the Markman area. When they tried to stop it, the driver failed to comply and sped away. The vehicle was eventually forced to a stop in Nomvete Street, Wells Estate.
Six suspects jumped out and tried to flee. K9 Brutus caught one, while members pursued and arrested the other five.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of copper cables valued at approximately R500 000. Eskom employees positively identified the cables as property stolen during the robbery. The minibus was impounded for further investigation.
The six suspects, aged between 29 and 43, were arrested on charges of possession of suspected stolen property. They are expected to appear in the Motherwell Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 2 November 2026.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Loyiso Ngalo, commended the members for their response. “The dedication and professionalism displayed by our K9 Unit members are commendable,” he said in the SAPS statement. “Their actions have not only resulted in the arrest of six suspects but have also ensured the recovery of critical infrastructure components with a significant value.”
Ngalo said copper cable theft and robbery hit essential services. “The theft and robbery of copper cables have a devastating impact on essential services, resulting in power disruptions, financial losses, and inconvenience to businesses and communities.”
Enquiries on the case can be directed to Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg on 082 779 7173. The full SAPS media statement is available at https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=72157.
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