Photo by: Bloomberg
State-owned freight and logistics company Transnet has welcomed the sentencing of a perpetrator arrested for tampering with the petroleum pipeline and theft of 40 000 ℓ of diesel.
The conviction in the Vrede Regional Court on March 14 brings the total number of convictions to 16 since 2019.
Transnet said the perpetrator’s sentencing to five years imprisonment sent a strong message to other perpetrators that tampering with essential infrastructure is a serious offence and that offenders will be dealt with accordingly.
Since 2019, Transnet Pipelines’ infrastructure has been targeted for fuel theft. Transnet has collaborated with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – also known as the Hawks – as well as National Crime Intelligence and the South African Police Service, to deal with this challenge.
To date, 251 suspects have been arrested, with the latest successful conviction being an indication of some success coming from the work being done by dedicated intelligence and surveillance task teams, along with their collaborators.
Transnet said it continued to urge all petroleum retailers and members of the public to refrain from buying fuel from unregistered traders to curb the demand for illegal petroleum products.
Transnet has asked all of 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 matter to the nearest police station.