A joint operation by stakeholders in the security cluster in Gauteng, recovered stolen telecommunications batteries valued at R11.5 Million, in Benoni.
The Gauteng Department of Community Safety, said a search and seizure warrant was successfully executed, on Wednesday, the 27th August 2025, at premises suspected of refurbishing lithium batteries.
A large quantity of assets were uncovered, including those of telecommunications giants-MTN, consisting of 243 lithium batteries, 72 gel batteries, and 28 lead acid batteries, as well as five lithium batteries belonging to Vodacom.
Investigators also discovered a shipping container filled with dismantled batteries and a makeshift laboratory inside the premises, where battery cells were being removed, tested, and prepared for resale in the market.
The security team was made up Bidvest Protea Coin, the police (SAPS) National Crime Intelligence, SAPS Benoni, Ekurhuleni TRT, Gauteng TRT, SAPS Anti-Gang Unit, SAPS East Rand Infrastructure, Gauteng Traffic Police Airwing, UDS and an MTN security specialist.
Picture: Gauteng Community Safety