Justice came swiftly for seven suspects who have been found guilty and sentenced for tampering with infrastructure and possessing around R1million-worth of stolen Transnet railway tracks.
The suspects, Thembinkosi Ngema, 40, Nhlakanipho Nkhwanazi, 33, Njabulo Ncube, 32, Mandla Mpanza, 45, Sipho Nkhwanazi, 49, Mlamuli Mntungwana, 38 and Sabelo Mathola, 32, appeared in Camperdown Magistrates Court on Monday where they were sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment, of which three years were suspended for five years provided they do not commit a similar crime during the period.
The men pleaded guilty to charges of tampering with essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen property.
The sentencing follows their arrest and the recovery of the stolen railway tracks that they had been transporting in vehicles near Umlaas Road in the early hours of 12 January 2022.
Magma Security owner, Shaheen Suleiman, said the security firm’s armed response officers had arrested the suspects after receiving intelligence about a rail and copper theft syndicate operating in the area.
“Magma investigators received information about three vehicles that were travelling from Richmond area to Durban via Umlaas Road. Information indicated that these vehicles were carrying suspected stolen property (railway tracks),” said Suleiman.
He said armed response officers had immediately responded and spotted the vehicles as they were approaching the Umlaas Road intersection.
“The members managed to stop two vehicles. There were two occupants in each vehicle. In both vehicles members spotted cut-up railway tracks of about two-metre lengths each. The suspects were immediately detained,” he said.
“The third vehicle, which disappeared on the N3 towards Durban, was intercepted a few minutes later by Magma Security members. This vehicle was also loaded with cut-up pieces of railway tracks, gas bottles and a cutting torch. There were three suspects arrested in this vehicle.”
Suleiman said the officers had then reported the matter to the Camperdown SAPS, the Hawks in Pietermaritzburg and Transnet investigators. The vehicles and suspects were handed over to the police.
Suleiman said the officers had testified in court and submitted photographs of the stolen property which they had taken at the time of the arrests.
Hawks spokesperson, Captain Lloyd Ramovha, said: “All seven were further declared unfit to possess firearms in the future. Three light delivery vehicles, Toyota Hilux, Mahindra and a Ford Ranger that were used in the commission of crime have since been referred to Asset Forfeiture Unit for a retention order.”
