Eight arrested for coal theft
Eight men arrested for theft and attempted at Wonderfontein Mine in Belfast
BELFAST – The Middelburg Hawks together with K9-unit members and Bidvest Protea Coin Security officers arrested eight suspects
in connection with murder and the theft of over R175 000’s worth of coal.
A total of 12 trucks to the value of R30 million were also seized during the arrest at Wonderfontein Mine in Belfast.
Also read: Operation Khanyisa cracks down on electricity theft
The eight, aged between 25 and 57, made their first court appearance in the Belfast Magistrate’s Court on May 26 on charges of theft and attempted murder.
It is alleged that the suspects had made a deal with the mine’s security officers on night duty and were granted access to the Wonderfontein plant using the rear gate to load the material.
They were supposedly paid between R35 000 and R50 000 for the deal.
The charge of attempted murder was added after the suspects attempted to run over the arresting officers with their trucks,
damaging one of the officers’ vehicles in the process.
