Johannesburg – About 5km of rail track was stolen from under the nose of a train company that repairs Metrorail carriages in Ekurhuleni.
Thumbu Mahlangu, member of the Ekurhuleni mayoral committee for roads and transport, said on Wednesday morning that metal thieves had used blowtorches to cut the track leading to the depot in Nigel.
He said officials from his department had visited the Union Carriage and Wagon (UCW) depot on Monday to inspect the site of the stolen tracks, which had been taken over about a week.
“They’re experts. Where they’re cutting, they’re not making mistakes,” Mahlangu said.
Initially, the length of rail track stolen was believed to be 2km. “It’s more than that, it’s 5km actually,” he said.
The theft meant that no trains could enter or exit the depot, with several carriages now stuck inside.
He said he had been informed that five men had been arrested in connection with the theft after they were found to be in possession of gas bottles used for blow torches…
South Africa Today – South Africa News
