Mpumalanga police arrested 19 alleged ferrochrome suspects in a joint operation with Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) that included raids of homes in informal settlements this week.
TFR said in a joint statement with the SAPS on Thursday that the arrests had been made during the special operation in response to a spike in incidents of theft of ferrochrome while it was being exported via rail from the mines in the Mpumalanga area.
“TFR has recently witnessed a phenomenon where trains that are in motion are blocked with objects on the track. These incidents take place close to informal settlements around the railway track,” TFR said.
“The joint operation by the police and TFR security teams was intelligence-driven and involved raids to specific houses located in the informal settlements.”
A total of 19 suspects were arrested during the joint operation, and stolen goods were recovered from two premises, according to the statement.
“TFR takes a zero-tolerance approach to the theft of commodities destined for the export market as this sets back the drive for our economy to recover after the Covid epidemic.
We cannot tolerate these incidents and hope that the criminal justice system will show no mercy to such economic crimes, irrespective of who the perpetrator is,” TFR said.
It commended the Mpumalanga SAPS, its in-house and private security service providers, and impacted customers for their dedication and swift action in dealing with the crime as “a united force”.
Transnet appealed to the public to report criminal activities to the SAPS on the national crime stop number 0860010111 or to send tip-offs and information via the MYSAPSAPP or email cabletheft@transnet.net.
