Transnet SOC Ltd (“Transnet”) applauds the multi-pronged security and intelligence clampdown by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in collaboration with Transnet security personnel, which helped to apprehend 17 suspects in various regions of our operations. All suspects are due to appear in court soon.

These suspects were arrested in six separate incidents which occurred between 9 and 10 September 2025. On 9 September 2025, a train at Ladysmith Station in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal was targeted while awaiting changeover into Danskraal Yard, whereby suspects cut a seal on a wagon carrying vehicles. One suspect was arrested after attempting to steal a spare wheel and accessories.

In another incident, five suspects were arrested at Bloemhof-Hoopstad, North-West on the N12 by SAPS members after receiving a tip-off to intercept a suspicious vehicle. Copper cable with a street value of about R60 000 was found inside the vehicle. At about the same time, acting on tip off in the North-West Province, police arrested four men who were found with pieces of catenary wire. The suspects have been charged with the illegal possession of essential infrastructure and violating the immigration act. They were detained at Bloemhof SAPS.

In the Western Cape, two incidents were reported on 9 September 2025. In the first incident, security officers stopped a vehicle near the Hugenot Tunnel, following the close monitoring of the vehicle. The driver was arrested while his passengers fled the scene. Officers recovered a significant amount of burnt Coax Copper Cable in the vehicle, which weighed about 300kg. The suspect was charged in terms of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act at the Rawsonville SAPS.

At nearby Bellville, Transnet security personnel caught a suspect tampering with essential infrastructure shortly after midnight. They contacted the Rapid Rail Police Unit (RRPU) and the suspect was arrested.

On 10 September 2025, at Swartkops, in Gqeberha, security officers reported five suspects in the vicinity of several locomotives. They alerted SAPS and Rapid Response Police Unit (RRPU), and subsequently five suspects were apprehended on four different locomotives and taken to the Swartkops police station.

Transnet Group Chief Executive, Michelle Phillips said:

“These arrests demonstrate our strong resolve in curbing the prevalence of vandalism and essential infrastructure theft within our network. It is also indicative that our focused approach towards enhancing our stakeholder collaboration and holding our security service providers to a higher performance standard is beginning to yield positive results.”

Transnet applauds all stakeholders involved in these arrests and those that have been reported in the previous weeks, including the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) Workstream 7, SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), State Security Agency (SSA), Eskom, Passenger Rail Association of South Africa (PRASA), and other state entities including the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. We are also grateful to our Transnet security teams who on a daily basis navigate this portfolio working with all stakeholders to protect the rail network and essential infrastructure.