WATCH: Educated illegal Zimbabwean foreigner nabbed by a South African home owner while attempting to steal electric cable wearing a tuxedo. pic.twitter.com/BmeHs4iKK1
— PSAFLIVE (@PSAFLIVE) April 8, 2026
Cape Town – In a bizarre twist that has locals chuckling and authorities on high alert, an educated illegal immigrant from Zimbabwe was arrested after being caught mid-theft, dressed in a full tuxedo while attempting to strip electric cables from a suburban home.
The incident unfolded late Tuesday evening in a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of Johannesburg, where homeowner Pieter van der Merwe, 52, spotted suspicious movement near his property’s electrical box. Armed with his phone’s flashlight, van der Merwe confronted the intruder, who was meticulously cutting copper wiring – a hot commodity on the black market due to South Africa’s ongoing energy crisis and soaring scrap metal prices.
Footage circulating on social media shows the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Tendai Moyo, frozen in shock, his bow tie askew and tails flapping as van der Merwe demanded he drop the tools. “I couldn’t believe my eyes – he looked like he was heading to a gala, not a garage,” van der Merwe told reporters. Moyo, who holds a university degree in engineering from Harare, allegedly entered South Africa illegally via Musina last month, fleeing Zimbabwe’s economic woes.
Police arrived swiftly, confirming Moyo’s undocumented status and linking him to similar thefts in the area. “Copper cable theft costs Eskom billions annually, exacerbating load shedding,” said Sgt. Nomsa Khumalo of the SAPS. Moyo faces charges of housebreaking, theft, and immigration violations.
Neighbors praised van der Merwe’s bravery, with community watch groups urging heightened vigilance. “In these tough times, we’re our own first line of defense,” said resident Maria Botha.
The unusual attire has sparked memes across X and TikTok, but experts warn it highlights deeper issues: illegal migration, unemployment, and rising crime. SAPS vows stricter border patrols