Stolen rail track has no affect on Springs

The recent incident where about 5km of rail track was stolen will not affect Springs’ rail traffic.

According to Themba Gadebe, metro spokesman, it doesn’t affect passengers, but it largely affects operations at the company that refurbishes trains.

The theft brought to a halt all operations at a wagon plant which relies solely on the cargo line for the movement of its newly-built or refurbished trains.

Thumbu Mahlangu, member of the Ekurhuleni mayoral committee for roads and transport, recently said the metal thieves had used blow torches to cut the track leading to the depot in Nigel.

He said criminal activity such as this, is suspected to be from an organised crime syndicate.

“It is threatening more than 800 jobs at the train refurbishing assembly plant in Nigel.”

Mahlangu said they have taken the lead in ensuring that alleged steel thieves in Duduza are nabbed.

This comes after five men briefly appeared in the Dunnottar Magistrate’s Court on July 10 for allegedly stealing hundreds of tonnes of railway tracks in Ekurhuleni, worth an estimated R1.3-million on the scrap metal market.

According to Mahlangu these men were caught in the act on July 9 by the private security company patrolling the rails.

“Security guards found them in possession of gas bottles used for blow torches,” he said. They appeared in court the next day but their bail application hearing was postponed to July 17 and it has been postponed again to July 23.

The suspects are remanded in custody at Dunnottar police cells.