TWO eThekwini Municipal employees were arrested for diesel theft last week.

The employees were allegedly caught using a municipal water truck which was offloading diesel at a private residence, while another water truck was parked next to the gate of the same residence in eKukhanyeni, near Verulam.

In all, the suspects were caught with 12, 25-litre containers of offloaded diesel. This amounts to 300 litres of stolen municipal diesel.

City spokesperson Gugu Sisilana confirmed that both trucks were carrying water intended for delivery to communities.

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“Investigators were in the area after reports that several truck drivers were spotted in the area offloading diesel. Two municipal employees were arrested and a case of theft was opened at the Inanda Police Station,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the City Integrity and Investigations Unit, Jimmy Ngcobo, said investigations continue as it is alleged that diesel is frequently offloaded in the same area.

He added that the stolen diesel is resold.

“We will not allow employees to steal municipal resources. We urge the community to report fraud and corruption cases to be investigated, like in this instance.”

In February this year, a municipal employee was arrested after he was caught red-handed allegedly offloading diesel from a water tanker in Reservoir Hills.

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