Cape Town – Transnet lost approximately R800 000 worth of fuel after vandals cut a hole in their underground pipeline.
The incident occurred in Mpumalanga, prompting the local police to launch a manhunt for the suspects responsible.
The police were alerted to the situation after security guards noticed fuel spraying heavily at Tau Farm.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that the fuel was spilling from the damaged Transnet pipeline.
“Police and other relevant stakeholders were summoned to the scene whereby it was noticed that the liquid is actually fuel spilling from Transnet underground pipeline.
“On further investigation it was noticed that the hole which is estimated at four metres was dug directly to the pipeline. The loss incurred is currently estimated at R800 000 and awaiting the exact figure after Transnet conducted their investigations,” police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said.
Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has since made a call to community members to refrain from damaging essential infrastructure.
“Beside the loss incurred by Transnet, people’s lives were placed under serious danger. Criminals should bear in mind that we are talking about fuel here, should it have happened that accidentally the land caught fire, we were going to lose a number of innocent lives, maybe including the suspects’ relatives,” Manamela.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
