Three suspects appear in court for fuel theft

Truck drivers Sizwe Bhengu (37), Brain Kanenhe (36) and Rogers Muntu Mathabela (44) appeared in the Nigel Magistrates’ Court on Monday (August 29) for theft of fuel amounting to just over R1.7 million.

It is reported that on Friday, August 26, late afternoon, three fuel tankers left Mooirivier, KwaZulu-Natal destined for Jameson Park around Heidelberg in Gauteng to deliver about 76,302 litres of fuel.

“The first fuel tanker arrived at the destination on Saturday morning. When the hose was connected to the sump tank there was no diesel coming out. The tanker was physically inspected and it was empty. The other two trucks were also inspected on arrival and there were discrepancies in the litres contained in the trucks as compared to the paperwork,” said police spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha.

The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team was summoned on the scene resulting in the arrest of the trio.

The court has postponed the case to Monday, September 5 for a bail application.