Two individuals were apprehended by the Hawks in the Free State for interfering with Transnet pipes and fuel theft.
The defendants, aged 28 to 36, were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organized Crime Investigation team in Bethlehem, according to a statement.
Visile Policing in Harrismith, as well as the Tactical Response Squad (TRT) and Crime Intelligence (CI) in Phuthaditjhaba, aided the team.
“Their arrest stems from an incident that occurred on Monday, when two Fidelity security employees were patrolling the Transnet pipes around Vrede,” Captain Christopher Singo said. They came upon a white bakkie near Block Valve 59 while patrolling. When the suspects noticed the security personnel, they drove away.”
Security officials noticed the block valve had been opened with wooden blocks and that petrol was flowing, he added. They also discovered an unidentified African male, who was later pronounced dead by rescue personnel.