KZN transport employee arrested, linked to fuel theft syndicate
Duma said the employee was allegedly linked to a diesel theft syndicate that has crippled road construction and maintenance projects.
A KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport employee has been arrested for allegedly working with a syndicate accused of stealing diesel worth more than R300 000 a month, in what the department says forms part of a wider crackdown on corruption and organised crime targeting state resources.
Themba Mkhize, who works in the department’s mechanical division in Empangeni, appeared in court following his arrest and is expected to return to court on July 24.
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Announcing the arrest on Saturday, KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the employee was allegedly linked to a diesel theft syndicate that has crippled road construction and maintenance projects across the province.
“We wish to announce that a dishonest and highly unethical employee has been arrested in our offices in Empangeni. This is in connection with a massive diesel fuel theft,” Duma said.
He commended an “honest transport officer” and the department’s specialised security team for exposing the alleged corruption from within the department.
Duma said the arrest formed part of the department’s intelligence-driven #NenzaniLaEzweni operation, carried out by specialised security investigators working with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
He added that the department had deliberately identified the employee publicly as part of its campaign to root out corruption and send a clear message that officials involved in the abuse of state resources would be held accountable.
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Duma warned that further arrests could follow as investigations continue into officials, security personnel and syndicates allegedly involved in fuel theft, abuse of state vehicles and related fraud.
According to Duma, investigators are probing several fraudulent schemes.
This includes officials allegedly colluding with fuel attendants to siphon diesel, using government fuel cards for private vehicles, and stealing fuel intended for construction machinery.
The MEC said diesel theft has had a severe impact on infrastructure delivery, with several road construction and maintenance projects disrupted due to fuel shortages.
He also referred to a R177 million road rehabilitation project in Bergville, where a contractor was allegedly robbed of 300 litres of diesel by armed members of what he described as the construction mafia.
The department has recently reported other arrests linked to the theft of heavy construction equipment, including excavators, graders, tipper trucks and departmental vehicles.
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Duma said that the Head of Department, Zibusiso Dlamini, was leading efforts to strengthen governance and warned that strict action would be taken against anyone found abusing state assets.
