Two (2) suspects arrested for railway theft

NELSPRUIT – Two suspects, aged 31 – 38, are expected to appear before the Nelspruit Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 09 October 2023 after they were arrested by members of the Nelspruit Flying Squad early on Friday morning. On Friday, 06 October 2023 at about 02h00, Flying Squad members responded to information regarding a truck which was loaded with railway tracks. The team identified a truck that was driving along the N4 highway near Schagen. They stopped and searched the truck. Upon the search, railway tracks covered under a blue tarpaulin were found. The driver was requested to verify the load. He complied and showed a document in the form of a photo from his cellphone as proof that the load was legal. The members of the Nelspruit based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation were summoned to the crime scene and took over the investigation. During the preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the same modus operandi was used in another case. The driver was informed that the documents were not legal and that SAPS members escorted the truck to Nelspruit SAPS. A case of tampering and damaging of essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen property was opened on behalf of Transnet. The suspects were arrested, and exhibits were seized for further investigation. The investigation is continuing.