This is according to the police spokesperson in the North West, Aafje Botma, who says the duo were arrested on Tuesday after members of the provincial flying squad received information about a white Mitsubishi truck that was being loaded with railway sleepers near the Rietkuil Farm outside Hartbeesfontein. Prior to their arrest, the suspects were spotted driving towards Klerksdorp when they were stopped by the police.

Police then stopped and searched the truck the men were travelling in and asked them questions on the materials that were found in their possession. After the men were unable to account for the railway sleepers, police then seized the truck and the railway sleepers. They arrested the suspects. The accused now face charges of stolen property and police estimate that the sleepers that were found in the truck are worth about R158 000.

Joining these two suspects at the Klerksdorp Court will be another three suspects between the ages of 26 and 35 who also face charges of stolen property. They were arrested on Thursday after police in the town received a tip-off that a truck was loading stolen materials. The police spotted the truck on the Klerksdorp Road, stopped and searched it and found 160 steel sleepers, 148 railway tracks, 3 gas cylinders and 20 litres of diesel in the men’s possession. They were unable to provide adequate explanations as to where they found or bought these materials, which led police to arrest them. The materials seized are estimated to be worth R376 000.

OFM News