Middleburg – Three coal theft suspects 31-year-old driver Brian Mandizvidze, weighbridge operators 37-year-old Nompumelelo Ngwenya and 30-year-old Tshepang Phatswane have been freed on bail.
Last week, on Thursday, Mandizvidze, Ngwenya and Phatswane appeared in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court, where they were each granted bail of R2 000.
The trio were arrested by the Hawks in the Blinkpan policing area.
It is alleged that on 25 August 2023, the driver of a truck, Mandizvidze, loaded coal at NCC Mine to deliver to the Majuba Power Station.
Instead of delivering the coal to Majuba Power Station, the driver took his load to an illegal coal yard, where it was off-loaded.
Meanwhile, weighbridge operators Ngwenya and Phatswane allegedly issued delivery slips that falsely showed the coal was delivered to the Majuba Power Station.
Based on the delivery slips a payment of R27 000 for the coal was made by Majuba Power Station.
However, the alleged deceit was discovered and the matter was reported to the Hawks.
The elite crime busters conducted a sting operation, and the trio was arrested on Thursday, 21 September 2023, and appeared in court on the same day.
Their case was postponed to 6 October 2023 for pre-trial.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said investigations were continuing.
