Two suspects who stole fuel from Transnet Pipelines have been convicted and handed lengthy prison sentences in the Newcastle Regional Court.
This comes after a Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) operation in collaboration with local police led to the arrest of four suspects who had been involved in crude oil theft at a Transnet pipeline near the Karbochem factory in Newcastle.
Transnet Pipelines, which welcomed the sentencing of the suspects in a statement on Tuesday, said police had made the arrests during a co-ordinated operation on the evening of 19 July 2021 and the morning of 20 July 2021, during which 39,000 litres of stolen crude oil were recovered from the scene.
One of the suspects co-operated with the police and turned state witness. An arrest warrant has been issued for a third suspect, who is currently evading the police, who are in pursuit.
The other two suspects, Macdonald Ndlovu and Boy Tumelo Matabatha were both handed down lengthy sentences on Monday.
Ndlovu was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for tampering with essential infrastructure and a further 15 years for fuel theft, while Matabatha was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for tampering with essential infrastructure and 12 years for fuel theft.
Transnet Pipelines acting chief executive Sibongiseni Khathi said the conviction and sentencing underscored the company’s and the police’s commitment to combat theft and vandalism of essential infrastructure.
"This conviction continues to send a strong message to all criminals and crime syndicates, that tampering with our critical and essential infrastructure will not be tolerated, and that the full might of the law will be enforced against anyone caught doing so," Khathi said.
He said Transnet Pipelines would continue to strengthen security measures to protect critical and essential infrastructure.
The public has been urged to report any suspicious activities along the Transnet pipeline to the Tip-Offs Anonymous Hotline: 0800 003 056.
