Transnet Pipelines (TPL) welcomes the sentencing of Herold Mabunda to an effective 10 years’ imprisonment for tampering with critical pipeline infrastructure and the theft of approximately 40 000 litres of petrol.

Mabunda was sentenced by the Evander Regional Court on 9 September 2026 following a case dating back to 2 July 2022, when TPL’s control centre detected a pressure drop on the Secunda–Kendal pipeline. This prompted TPL’s security service provider, Bidvest Protea Coin (BPC) to mobilise teams that immediately investigated the pressure drop. During the response, security personnel identified a fuel tanker and an accompanying vehicle travelling from the vicinity of the affected pipeline infrastructure.

The tanker was followed as it travelled towards the N17. When security teams attempted to intercept it, the driver failed to stop and attempted to evade the security personnel. The driver and a passenger subsequently abandoned the tanker and attempted to flee on foot before both were apprehended by BPC security personnel.

Investigations established that approximately 40 000 litres of unleaded petrol, valued at R1.069 million, had been stolen from the TPL pipeline. The full volume of stolen product was recovered and returned to TPL.
Mabunda was arrested on the day of the incident and remained in custody throughout the court proceedings after being denied bail. He was found guilty on all counts by the Evander Regional Court on 21 January 2026.

On 9 September 2026, the court sentenced Mabunda to 10 years’ imprisonment for tampering with essential infrastructure, 10 years for theft of fuel and one year for transporting dangerous goods without the required licence or permit. The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, resulting in an effective 10-year term of imprisonment.

TPL Chief Executive, Sibongiseni Khathi, welcomed the sentence:

“This conviction sends a strong message that the theft of fuel and crimes against critical infrastructure are serious offences that will not go unpunished. The successful prosecution of this matter reinforces our commitment to safeguarding TPL’s assets and ensuring accountability where criminal conduct occurs. We commend the collaboration between law enforcement agencies and our security teams that contributed to this successful outcome.”

The conviction follows the earlier prosecution of Mabunda’s co-accused, Bongani Mzizi, who pleaded guilty in June 2023 and received an effective seven-year prison sentence for tampering with essential infrastructure, theft and transporting dangerous goods.

TPL continues to work closely with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and its security service provider, Bidvest Protea Coin, to investigate fuel theft, protect critical pipeline infrastructure and support the successful prosecution of offenders.

TPL encourages members of the public to report suspicious activities along its pipeline network to the Tip-Offs Anonymous Hotline on 0800 003 056.