Chimutanga was arrested in March this year by the Serious Organised Crime Investigation at a maize farm in Kliprivier, in the Vaal Rand.
“The investigation team had received intelligence about unknown men who were seen tampering with the Transnet fuel pipeline at Greenland maize farm,” Gauteng Hawks spokesperson Capt Ndivhuwo Mulamu said in a statement.
“On arrival, Chimutanga was apprehended whilst driving a white Renault truck carrying a number of containers laden with the stolen diesel.”
The truck and the stolen diesel worth R300 000 were seized.
Chimutanga has since been sentenced to thirteen years direct imprisonment of which three years have been suspended for five years.
The Asset Forfeiture is in the process to apply for a preservation order to forfeit the truck.
In August five suspects aged between 52 and 24 appeared in the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court following their arrest for tampering with essential infrastructure and theft of oil from a Transnet fuel pipeline.
According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Lynda Steyn the five suspects were allegedly caught red-handed extracting oil from the underground valve into one of the truck and trailer.
“Two generators and other equipment were also seized for further investigation.”
