An investigation into the organised theft of guardrails from KwaZulu-Natal’s roads is being extended to other provinces as authorities probe possible links between the alleged syndicate and transport department employees.
Two suspects arrested during the investigation appeared briefly in the KwaDukuza Magistrates’ Court last week.
KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said three suspects had been arrested by the SAPS Organised Crime Unit and his department’s specialised security team.
The suspects face charges of theft and tampering with critical infrastructure.
One of them is believed to be an alleged kingpin of the so-called guardrail mafia. He was arrested after an alleged syndicate member led police to a company in Jacobs and identified its owner.
Duma said investigators were examining whether any departmental employees were linked to the syndicate. The National Prosecuting Authority has assigned a prosecutor to the investigation to help prepare the case for prosecution.
The matter was postponed to September 23, when the two suspects are expected to apply for bail.
Duma said the postponement would allow the defence lawyer to consult the suspects, take instructions and consider media broadcast applications submitted by the South African Broadcasting Corporation and Eyewitness News.
Investigators were undertaking further work to link the syndicate to guardrail theft cases throughout KZN and in other provinces, he added.
“By and large, we have made a giant leap towards the dismantling of the guardrail mafia.”
He said the department was using Presidential Proclamation R156 of 2024 to support further investigations, drawing on resources and expertise from the Hawks, SIU and Asset Forfeiture Unit.
“This integration will help us to eradicate essential infrastructure crimes within the construction sector.”
He appealed to the public to provide authorities with information about infrastructure-related crime.
“We must unite against this tiny minority that is not only looting taxpayers’ money but is also behind economic sabotage. They are the biggest threat to socioeconomic development and service delivery in KwaZulu-Natal and the whole country,” Duma said.
Guardrails worth millions of rand had been stolen for their scrap-metal value, compromising road safety and contributing to the deaths of road users, he added.