A construction company hired by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements for the R177 million rehabilitation of a road in Bergville under the Okhahlamba Local Municipality, was robbed of 300 litres of diesel by gun-wielding members of the construction mafia.
KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the incident was reported at the Bergville Police Station.
He expressed confidence that KZN police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and his team of law enforcement agencies would apprehend the criminals.
He also saluted Inkosi Njabulo Miya of the Emazizini Traditional Council, the izinduna, and the whole community for their public display of anger and opposition against these criminals who are trying to derail the project.
Construction company
“We are encouraging anyone with information about this robbery to contact the nearest police,” Duma said.
“There should be no place for construction mafia gangs in villages, townships, suburbs or anywhere in KZN.”
Duma said the department invested R177 million in rehabilitating the main road P304. The road is a link connecting Bergville to Maloti-Drakensberg Park/Royal Natal Park through R74. It also stimulates rural economies for communities living under the yoke of poverty.
The road network was destroyed by floods, leaving hundreds of communities isolated and unable to access hospitals, schools and socio-economic centres.
“With this investment, as the department, we want to ensure that P304 remains in safe and usable condition and contributes towards the stimulation of all sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and tourism,” Duma said.
Earlier, Duma revealed that the project will lead to 74 job opportunities, R32 million is set aside for local emerging contractors, R9 million is for women-owned contractors, R16 million is for youth-owned contractors, and R1.6 million is for people with disabilities.
Meanwhile, two eThekwini Municipality employees were arrested for diesel theft last week.
The municipality said a municipal water truck was caught offloading diesel at a private house. Another water truck was parked next to the same house’s gate in eKukhanyeni near Verulam.
Both trucks were carrying water meant to be delivered to communities.
The municipality said investigators were in the area after receiving reports that several truck drivers were seen in the area offloading diesel. This led to the arrest of two municipal employees, and a theft case was opened at Inanda Police Station. The suspects are expected to appear in court.
City Integrity and Investigations Unit head Jimmy Ngcobo commended the investigators.
“Further investigations will be conducted in this area as it is alleged that diesel is frequently offloaded there,” Ngcobo said.
He said the stolen diesel is resold.
“We will not allow employees to steal municipal resources,” Ngcobo said.
“We urge the community to report fraud and corruption cases to be investigated, like in this instance.”
Ngcobo added that the suspects were caught with 12×25 litres of offloaded diesel, amounting to 300 litres of stolen municipal diesel.
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