According to police spokesperson, Martin Xuma, Excelsior police received a tip-off on Wednesday night.

“The police were told that there were people who were busy burning copper cables at the farm. Without hesitation the police followed the lead and went to investigate but waited until Thursday morning to arrest the suspects.”

Xuma explains when the police went back to the farm in the early hours of Thursday morning, they discovered the suspects while they were burning the alleged stolen copper.

It was also discovered that the two men, aged between 30 and 40, were from Theunissen.

The police arrested the suspects, who are facing charges of being in possession of suspected stolen property (copper).

According to Xuma, the copper is estimated to be worth R 30 000.

“It’s not clear where the copper is stolen. And also, we cannot mention the name of the farm, as it is a part of police investigations,” says Xuma.

Xuma adds police continued with their search and found a small bag with dagga near the farm house and interrogated the farm owner and his three visitors from Lesotho.

“They told the police that it was their dagga and police searched again and found three bags full of dagga hidden under a tree.”

The dagga, with a street value of R 37 950, was confiscated and the three Lesotho citizens, as well as the farm owner, were arrested for dealing in dagga.

All six arrested suspects are expected to appear before Excelsior Magistrate's Court on Monday.

According to Free State Police Provincial Commissioner, Simon Mpembe, “this is a clear example that if the community work together with the police to fight crime, criminals will be put behind bars and crime will fall”.

Matseko Ramotekoa/OFM News