VREDE – The Vrede Regional Court in the Free State sentenced Felix Magatu (44), a Zimbabwean, to seven years’ direct imprisonment yesterday – Monday 20 April – for theft of crude oil from a Transnet pipeline.
Magatu was found guilty on charges including tampering with and damaging essential infrastructure, as well as theft of crude oil. His co-accused and fellow countryman, Shepard Vareni, is already serving a seven-year prison term following his sentencing by the same court in November last year.
The court also declared the two unfit to possess a firearm.
Lt Col Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the sentencing resulted from an investigation by the Hawks team in the province. The convictions stem from the pair’s arrest on 25 September 2023, when security personnel were alerted to crude oil theft at a farm near Memel in the province.
“After mobilising local police, the two accused were chased and arrested, and two vehicles were recovered. It was found that the pair had damaged a Transnet pipeline to steal crude oil worth over R600 000,” said Mohobeleli.
Vareni, who was found to be in South Africa illegally, was additionally fined R5 000 or three months’ imprisonment for contravening the Immigration Act.
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