A suspected kingpin believed to be behind a criminal syndicate responsible for stealing millions of rands’ worth of road guardrails across KwaZulu-Natal has been arrested.
KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the suspect, who allegedly owns a company and warehouse, was arrested in Jacobs following an intelligence-driven operation.
Duma said the suspect was identified by alleged runners who were arrested last week as part of an operation under the department’s #NenzaniLaEzweni campaign.
The suspect is currently in police custody.
“We wish to acknowledge the excellent execution of the operation by our specialised security team and the SAPS Organised Crime Unit,” Duma said.
He described the arrest as the beginning of efforts to dismantle what he called one of the largest criminal syndicates involved in the theft of road guardrails in the province.
The department launched an investigation after noticing that guardrails were continually being stolen from KwaZulu-Natal’s road network, which stretches for more than 34,000 kilometres.
Duma said the theft of guardrails was not simply a financial crime but posed a serious threat to the lives of motorists.
“Our Road Traffic Inspectorate team regularly responds to horrific rollover accidents, especially those that occur after out-of-control vehicles slide down embankments,” he said.
More than R500 million has been invested over the years in the installation and maintenance of guardrails across the province’s road network.
According to the department, guardrails and their end terminals are designed as road-safety infrastructure to absorb the kinetic energy generated when a moving vehicle travelling at speed collides with them.
The removal of the barriers leaves motorists exposed to potentially deadly crashes, particularly where vehicles leave the roadway and travel down embankments.
Duma said the ongoing investigation would seek to establish whether the alleged kingpin has links to companies that have been awarded contracts worth more than R500 million to erect and maintain guardrails across the province.
Investigators will also probe possible links between the suspect and employees within the Department of Transport, as well as possible connections to the tow-truck industry.
The investigation will further examine whether scrapyards are involved in the alleged theft and disposal of the stolen guardrails.
Duma said the investigation was intended to establish the full extent of the alleged syndicate and determine whether individuals or businesses entrusted with road infrastructure contracts had any links to the criminal operation.
The MEC said the arrest formed part of broader efforts to protect the province’s road infrastructure and hold those responsible for the theft of guardrails accountable.
The department said the investigation remains ongoing.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
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