By Kaya 959 Reporter
Six men have been arrested and a large consignment of railway lines confiscated in a sting operation in Germiston.
Police spokesperson Captain Amanda van Wyk said the men, aged between 30 and 65, have been charged for possession of suspected stolen property and defeating the ends of justice.
“The SAPS members were out on a routine crime prevention patrol when they detected a suspicious truck and immediately conducted a stop-and-search. The search resulted in the SAPS members to recover a large consignment of railway lines found inside of the truck,” van Wyk said.
She said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had also sold a consignment of railway lines to a scrapyard dealer.
The value of the stolen property, which belongs to the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA), is an estimated R1-million.
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Mass vandalism and destruction
Earlier this year, trade unions called on PRASA to prioritise programmes against the theft and vandalism of railway infrastructure.
The Transport Committee said mass vandalism and destruction of PRASA infrastructure has resulted in vast sections of infrastructure being closed due to lack of electrical lines.
It said this, together with ongoing modernisation of stations and other related infrastructure, has forced Metrorail to severely scale back its services, with some corridors completely closed in various regions.
“Furthermore, in 2019, Prasa lost R364 million through looting of its infrastructure and burning of trains along 22 000 kilometres of tracks targeted by criminals,” the Committee said.
Gauteng police have meanwhile continued to carry out Operation O Kae Molao efforts.
Gauteng SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela led a multi-disciplinary forces operation and arrests were effected.
Intergrated Inproved Operation Okae Molao conducted in the @CityofJoburgZA by #JMPD, @GTP_Traffstats @SAPoliceService & various law enforcement agencies.
In our efforts to ensure that law and order is maintained. #OkaeMolao #SaferJoburg #WeserveJoburg pic.twitter.com/xvJP734Xpp
— Jo'burg Metro Police Department – JMPD (@JoburgMPD) September 23, 2021
At the weekend more than 900 people were arrested in blitz operations around Gauteng.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said people were arrested for being in possession of unlicensed guns and ammunition, drunk driving, malicious damage to property, being in possession of suspected stolen goods and flouting restrictions.
Police confiscated counterfeit goods with an estimated street value of R1.7m.
#sapsGP #SAPS, Brand Owners and other law enforcement agencies during Operation #OKaeMolao, recovered counterfeit goods with an estimated value of R1.7 MIL at a building in Johannesburg CBD. ME pic.twitter.com/q8BR6oG1ip
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) September 23, 2021
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