EASTERN CAPE – Law enforcement authorities have successfully recovered stolen Transnet infrastructure valued at approximately R10 million following a targeted raid in Qonce. The joint operation, which focused on a scrap metal dealership in Ndevana, led to the arrests of two suspects and marks a significant breakthrough in regional efforts to dismantle railway theft networks.
On 15 July 2026, a specialized multidisciplinary team—comprising the Mount Ruth Rapid Rail Unit, Ndevana SAPS, and Transnet representatives—executed a search warrant based on actionable intelligence. Officers arrived at the Ndevana Location premises and detained two male suspects, aged 25 and 35, who were present at the facility at the time of the raid.
During the systematic search of the premises, Transnet officials verified the origin of the seized materials. The recovered inventory of stolen railway assets included:
– 49 rolls of overhead track equipment;
– 18 railway rails, each weighing approximately 40 kilograms;
– Four transformer batteries; and
– One bag containing damaged copper.
Following the seizure, both individuals were formally arrested. They face charges of possession of suspected stolen property alongside contraventions of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act 18 of 2015. While the initial criminal docket was registered at the Ndevana Police Station, authorities have since escalated the matter, transferring the case to the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation (OCI) Unit for deeper scrutiny and advanced investigation.
Legal proceedings commenced at the Qonce Magistrate’s Court on 17 July 2026. The 25-year-old suspect was granted bail to accommodate ongoing investigative requirements. Meanwhile, the 35-year-old suspect, identified as the proprietor of the scrap metal dealership, was remanded in custody. He is scheduled to return to the same court on 28 July 2026.
Transnet officials and SAPS representatives confirmed that this coordinated effort reflects a sustained, zero-tolerance approach to protecting critical national infrastructure and prosecuting those involved in the illicit scrap metal trade.
