The state-owned freight and logistics company Transnet has celebrated the conviction of a perpetrator arrested for tampering with the gas pipeline and stealing 40,000 ℓ of diesel.
The conviction at the Vrede Regional Court on March 14 brings the total number of convictions to 16 since 2019.
Transnet said sentencing the perpetrator to five years in prison sent a strong message to other perpetrators that tampering with essential infrastructure is a serious crime and that offenders will be dealt with accordingly.
Since 2019, Transnet Pipelines infrastructure has been targeted for fuel theft. Transnet has collaborated with the Priority Crime Investigation Directorate, also known as the Hawks, as well as National Crime Intelligence and the South African Police Service, to address this challenge.
So far, 251 suspects have been arrested, and the latest successful conviction is an indication of some success coming from the work done by dedicated intelligence and surveillance task forces, together with their collaborators .
Transnet said it continued to urge all oil retailers and the public to refrain from buying fuel from unregistered traders to curb demand for illegal petroleum products.
Transnet has asked all its stakeholders to report any suspicious vehicles, tankers or activity near the company’s infrastructure by calling the toll-free number 0800 203 843, or to report the case to the nearest police station.
