This as the duo did not appear before the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court in the North West on Monday because of an unconfirmed coronavirus report at the court. The Hawks provincial spokesperson, Tlangelani Rikhotso, confirms that the duo, aged 27 and 34, have been remanded in custody with their case postponed to July 17 for their first appearance. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in the province is expected to comment on the alleged Covid-19 case.

Rikhotso previously reported that the two, along with another suspect who is at large, were allegedly caught while stealing diesel at an underground pipeline site in Rustenburg. She said these two and the third suspect were extracting the diesel from underground and pumping it into a fuel tanker.

Two suspects were immediately arrested after being caught in action while the third suspect managed to escape. "The fuel tanker and other equipment used were seized for further investigation," she added.

OFM News