Two men died in hospital after they sustained severe burn wounds in a mission gone wrong operation to steal fuel at Blesbokfontein Transnet Pipeline on Farm Klipfontein.
The two men aged 28 and 39 years old were arrested by members of Fidelity Security on January 21 at Kendal near Phola.
The men were arrested after the Transnet control room detected a fuel pressure drop on the pipeline. Authorities responded to the identified spot and apprehended one suspect who attempted to run away. He had fresh burn marks all over his body.
“There was a big fire in the maize field nearby and upon inspection, they realised that the flames are from the burning Transnet pipeline,” said Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi from the Hawks.
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The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team and local police were summoned to the scene for further investigation.
Following an intensive search, a second suspect who was also badly burnt was apprehended after he was found hiding under a bridge.
“Emergency services were summoned and the two suspects were transported to the hospital under police guard. All the exhibits which included a white Mazda bakkie, generator and pieces of charred clothes were confiscated for further investigation.”
“The case is still being investigated to ensure that there were no other people involved in the matter,” said Sgt Thabang Petros Ntuli Phola police spokesperson.
The tampering and damage to pipelines because of theft remains the biggest threat to the security of fuel supply, particularly to the inland areas. It also poses a danger to nearby communities, due to the inherent dangers of tampering with high-pressure petroleum pipelines, which could result in fire incidents, causing serious injuries and fatalities to the perpetrators and communities.
Transnet is calling on all stakeholders involved in the petroleum value chain to join efforts in the fight against fuel theft from the country’s valuable pipeline infrastructure.
‘Transnet is further urging all petroleum retailers and members of the public to refrain from buying fuel from unregistered traders, to curb the demand for illegal petroleum products.
“The network of 3 800 kilometres of high-pressure pipelines traverses five provinces and supplies about 250 million litres per week of refined petroleum products to the inland market, which accounts for 65 per cent of the total demand,” said Ayanda Shezi spokesperson for Transnet.
Transnet is appealing to all communities and stakeholders to report all criminal activities to the law enforcement agencies. Any activity involving movements of bakkies and fuel tankers in the area of the block valve chambers or pipeline markers should be reported using this toll-free number ‒ 0800 203 843.
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