NATIONAL NEWS - Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has welcomed the conviction and lengthy jail sentences of four men arrested in connection with the theft and damage of essential Transnet infrastructure that seriously impacted rail operations.
On Monday 19 August, Nxuba (Cradock) Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape showed zero tolerance and sentenced the perpetrators to 35 years each - a collective effective 50 years in prison.
Charlie van Dyk (43), Elandre Senekal (29), Michelle van Straaten (23) and Kwakhanya Bolowana (28) were convicted on charges of housebreaking, damaging essential infrastructure and theft.
The four vandalised and stole infrastructure at the Scalen Rail Station on Mortimer Road in Nxuba in March 2023, making off with four batteries, transformers and cables valued at R57 000.
The four men each received five years for housebreaking, 15 years for damage to essential infrastructure and 15 years for theft.
Senekal and Van Straaten were jailed for an effective 20 years, while van Dyk and Bolowana will serve 30 years.
Crippling impact
TFR Acting General Manager of Security and Forensic Shawn Johnson welcomed the sentences saying security-related incidents on the rail network continue to have a crippling impact on TFR's operations. "This leads to train delays, cancellations, and tonnage losses. Criminal syndicates attack the rail network, targeting essential rail infrastructure by damaging, tempering, vandalising, and disrupting rail operations.
"In July this year, we had 481 criminal-related incidents on our rail network, including cable theft and vandalism.
"The TFR security department continues to collaborate with law enforcement agencies, customers, and other state-owned companies to address the ongoing criminal attacks on the rail networks," Johnson said.
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