Lieutenant Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli, the provincial spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), stated that a perpetrator named Kapalamula collaborated with others in stealing diesel from Transnet. The incident occurred on January 4, 2022, when private security personnel discovered a group of suspects drawing diesel from a storage tank on a farm near Vrede.
The suspects, including Kapalamula, damaged the block valve and were in the process of filling four trucks and a bakkie with diesel. Upon encountering security officers, Kapalamula’s accomplices fled, leading to his arrest. Only one truck owner has come forward, as others provided false or changed addresses, making them untraceable.
The vehicles sought for ownership claims include a Scania truck (CX 31 VM GP), a Ford bakkie (JV 31 NH GP), a white Scania truck (FJP 047 MP), and a white MAN truck (NU 37576). Failure to claim these vehicles may result in forfeiture to the state. The owner of the Ford bakkie is known.
Major General Mokgadi Bokaba, Head of the Hawks in the Free State, commended the collaborative efforts of the Hawks, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and private security in securing a sentence. The successful partnership is crucial in combating economic crimes, with Bokaba emphasizing the need for a united front against such activities for the benefit of the country’s economy.