Transnet fuel theft ‘kingpin’ to appear in court
The alleged kingpin
of a fuel theft syndicate targeting Transnet's fuel pipeline is due to make his
first appearance in court in Witbank today.
Police say the 35-year-old, who was nabbed in Pretoria, is accused of stealing over a hundred million rand worth of fuel from the ports and rail company and damaging essential infrastructure.
When his two alleged accomplices were caught in Vrede, in the Free State on Saturday - some 8 000 litres of fuel heading to Witbank were found in their possession.
SAPS spokesperson Philani Nkwalase says the three suspects were nabbed during a multi-disciplinary operation led by the Hawks.
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"It is now public knowledge that almost 8.5 million litres of fuel, valued at approximately R102 million has been stolen from the national Transnet pipeline last year. There are 46 suspects arrested in the last few months, owing to the multi-disciplinary approach operation which proves to be a working formula."
