Breakthrough in fight against rail infrastructure theft

The arrest of two men and the recovery of suspected stolen Transnet railway infrastructure worth about R10m at a scrap metal yard in Qonce have shone a spotlight on the vandalism that continues to cripple rail services. This as the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and Transnet spend millions repairing damaged infrastructure before new electric commuter trains can be introduced in KuGompo City. The arrests were made in Ndevana, Qonce, last week.

The ongoing battle against theft and vandalism along the rail corridor between Ntabozuko and KuGompo City has delayed upgrades and forced Prasa to operate a reduced commuter service. On Thursday, police spokesperson Captain Hazel Mqala said officers acted on information before conducting a search at the scrapyard. Police found two men, aged 25 and 35, at the premises, where Transnet officials identified infrastructure belonging to the rail operator.

The recovered items included 49 rolls of overhead track equipment, 18 railway rails weighing about 40kg each, four transformer batteries and a bag containing damaged copper. “The suspects were arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen property,” Mqala said. The suspects appeared in the Qonce magistrate’s court on July 17.

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The 25-year-old was released on bail, while the 35-year-old scrapyard owner remains in custody and is expected back in court on July 28. Speaking on the sidelines of a Nelson Mandela Day event in Mdantsane on Thursday, Prasa Group CEO Hishaam Emeran said theft and vandalism remained among the biggest threats facing passenger rail services. Though the rail infrastructure is owned by Transnet, Emeran said Prasa had invested heavily in protecting the network as it prepared to introduce a new fleet of modern electric commuter trains in the Eastern Cape.

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