NATIONAL NEWS - The theft of overhead cables and vandalism of Transnet property has reached unprecedented levels. In the period January 2021 to October 2021, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) lost over 1000 km of copper cables – averaging 600 theft and vandalism incidents monthly.
The consequences of cable theft are not limited to financial losses but often result in tragedy.
TFR security is under constant threat such as the incident last week where a security officer was ambushed and fatally injured at the Natalspruit Depot in Germiston.
TFR continues to witness a steep increase in incidents. In the period 29 October to 10 November, 55km of cable was stolen, 9.4km of which, was stolen in the last 48 hours alone.
The rampant theft and vandalism has severe impact on freight movements and has a direct impact on TFR’s and customer’s revenues as we cancel trains daily.
Year to date, TFR has cancelled 1190 trains as a direct result of security related incidents. Many of the incidents take place on high traffic and high volume corridors, moving major bulk commodities for our customers. We have seen a particular spike in incidents in the NorthCor (where we move Coal), CapeCor (where we move Manganese) and the Central Corridor which is a junction connecting all of our corridors. These lost volumes can never be recouped.
The incidents range from the theft of copper cable, vandalism of susbstations which are crucial to the running of our electrified fleet, theft of wiring and cable from locomotives, theft of wooden rail sleepers and other malicious damage to Transnet property. The damage runs into hundreds of millions.
TFR continues to engage law enforcement agencies to assist in crime prevention across our network.
We are pleading to the general public to contact the Crime Stop Hotline on 08600 01000 or to send an email to transnet@tip-off.com to report any suspicious activity near and around our network. Information provided will be treated confidentiality.
'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news'
