Four suspected diesel thieves arrested in Delmas area
The on-duty operational manager at the mine apparently received information about suspicious light delivery vehicles that entered the mine and found a hiding place between stockpiles.
Three Zimbabwean nationals and a South African citizen were arrested after a failed attempt to steal diesel.
The arrests were made on April 22 at around 20:00 at the Moabvelden Mine at Vanggatfontein in the Delmas area.
The on-duty operational manager at the mine received information about suspicious light delivery vehicles that entered the mine and found a hiding place between stockpiles.
The operation manager, together with the reaction unit, went to the scene.
On arrival, they found four vehicles (two white Isuzus, a white Ford Ranger and one white Toyota Hilux pickup, all with Gauteng registration plates), resembling mechanical vehicles from the mine, with their loading bins converted into tanks.
: Bethal Police arrest man for violation of grave
Failure of the suspects to provide a reasonable reason for their entry onto the mine premises led to their arrest for attempted theft of diesel.
They seized the vehicles for further investigation and the Department of Home Affairs will investigate the legality of the Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa.
Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, the provincial commissioner of Mpumalanga police, is concerned about the escalating reports of mine-related diesel thefts in the province.
“Earlier this month, officers arrested four suspects for the murder of one of our members and another member sustained serious injuries while investigating a diesel theft case in Middleburg.
“We will work around the clock to get all the syndicates responsible for diesel thefts behind bars,” warned Manamela.
