Siphoning crude oil from Transnet pipeline lands man in jail for 15 years

A guy was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being discovered red-handed siphoning crude oil from a Transnet pipeline in the Free State, while his three accomplices received lower penalties.

Norman Tsvito, 44, Cliff Mtantho, 46, Beckham Mtando, 28, and George Katumba, 56, were convicted of theft and tampering with important infrastructure at the Sasolburg magistrate’s court on Friday.

According to Hawks spokesperson Capt Christopher Singo, “Transnet received a pressure drop from their pipeline at Taaibos farm near Zamdela Sasolburg” in August 2020 in the early hours of the morning.

The pressure drop was reported to the Hawks’ in Sasolburg. “When the police arrived at the crime scene, they found the accused loading crude oil from the valve into the truck. The accused were then arrested and they appeared in court on several occasions culminated in their recent sentencing,” said Singo.

Tsvito was sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment and the other three accused were sentenced to a fine of R1,000 or 30 days’ imprisonment.