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Two men appeared in a Vaal Rand court on Monday for allegedly stealing fuel worth R500 000 from a Transnet fuel plant in Alberton.
They were arrested on Saturday by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and positively linked to the theft.
Spokesperson, Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu, said they were also found in possession of plastic containers, a hosepipe, and a spade.
The two, Mveliso Vabaza (28) and Martin Sibita (39), were charged with tampering with essential infrastructure and theft of fuel.
They were remanded in custody until their next Tuesday when they make their next court appearance.
Meanwhile, Mulamu said they were also searching for the driver of a truck who is alleged to have also stolen fuel also worth R500 000 from the same Transnet fuel plant.
She said police seized a truck with the stolen fuel after the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled.
In September Agri SA executive director, Christo van der Rheede, told Farmers Weekly that the theft of fuel from the Transnet pipeline network is an enormous problem in South Africa.
He told the publication that indications were that the theft was coordinated and carried out by syndicates from outside South Africa’s borders.
Van Der Rheede said the diesel shortage during last year’s harvesting season was directly linked to fuel theft from the pipelines.
