Transport Portfolio Committee (TPC) chairperson Donald Selamolela has revealed that a syndicate is targeting the Transnet pipeline that transports fuel from KwaZulu-Natal to the country’s landlocked provinces.
The TPC recently conducted oversight visits of all entities under the Department of Transport to uncover key issues that is keeping them from fulfilling their public mandate.
During its turn, state-owned port and rail authority Transnet highlighted that its rail network is subjected to high levels of theft and vandalism, with cases of cable theft and track damage being near daily occurrences.
Perhaps more alarmingly, it said that it’s seen criminal elements habitually targeting its fuel pipeline that transports petrol and diesel inland from the Port of Durban.
They reportedly tap into the pipeline to divert fuel meant for inland customers such as franchise filling stations.
These syndicates are thought to involve not only criminals but also corrupt Transnet officials who can provide important information from the inside.
An ongoing dilemma
The issue of fuel siphoning on Transnet pipelines isn’t new, with incidents stretching as far back as 2019.
“The issue of the pipeline… is an issue that is continuing, where people tap into that particular pipeline that takes fuel from the coastline into the inland,” Selamolela told Newzroom Afrika.
However, cases have steadily increased in recent years and have even become life-threatening, with certain Transnet officials now having to be accompanied by bodyguards when performing their duties.
Transnet told Business Day in 2023 that it implemented strict security measures over its pipelines in an effort to reduce siphoning and crimes affecting their continued operation.
“We are implementing stringent security measures to address the continuing malicious and illegal tapping within the pipeline network,” said Transnet.
“We run a pipeline network across various provinces and we do experience incidents in some of these areas. Other pipeline routes are also affected. Working together with law enforcement agencies we have tightened the grip on these criminals targeting our pipeline.”
It appears these measures have been ineffective in curbing the criminal elements.
The TPC has therefore elevated the issue to the South African Police Service for further investigation.
“You can’t have state officials, or official of public enterprise, having to be guarded so that they can do their work,” said Selamolela.
“That is why we called on the South African Police Services, we called on all the authorities to put a close eye on this particular matter. It’s a matter we are not going to sleep on, we’re going to be on it, day in, day out, until these matters are resolved.”
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