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By Jonisayi Maromo 
13h ago
Pretoria – A 37-year-old man was arrested in Mpumalanga for stealing diesel from the Transnet rail, port and pipeline company, which he and other suspects were extracting from a pipeline in Ogies, the Crime Priority Investigation Directorate (Hawks) said on Friday.
The man was arrested Thursday after Transnet experienced a pressure drop in the pipeline and deployed a team that noticed a vehicle next to the line and relayed the information to security, said Hawks spokesman in Mpumalanga Capt. Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi.
“Upon arrival, security noticed a double-cab bakkie that immediately sped away. The driver of the bakkie lost control and landed in a ditch. One suspect was arrested and others fled on foot, ”he said, adding that the man would appear in Ogies Magistrates Court on Monday.
In October, five people, including a lawyer, appeared in a Vosloorus court in Gauteng charged with possession of allegedly stolen diesel and damaging essential infrastructure while extracting fuel from Transnet.
At the time, the Hawks said Transnet officials had reported a pressure drop in an oil pipeline in the Free State town of Cornelia and contacted local law enforcement who established that crude oil had been stolen worth an estimated value of R150 000.
On the same day, Hawks officers, assisted by other law enforcement units and Fidelity Security Services, followed up on suspects who were in possession of crude oil allegedly stolen in a Boksburg plot.
Almost 40,000 liters of crude oil, two trucks with trailers, two other vehicles and a generator pump were seized, leading to the arrest of the five suspects.
African News Agency (ANA)
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