Transnet railway heavy rainfall

Trans Freight Rail has shut down 90% of its North-East railway Corridor due to damaged caused by the heavy rainfall. Photo: Twitter/Transnet

Transnet says 1000km of cables were stolen in just 10 months this year

‘In the period January 2021 to October 2021, Transnet Freight Rail has lost over 1000 kilometres of copper cable,’ said the company.

Transnet railway heavy rainfall

Trans Freight Rail has shut down 90% of its North-East railway Corridor due to damaged caused by the heavy rainfall. Photo: Twitter/Transnet

Transnet said vandalism and theft has cost it hundreds of millions of rand. The national freight company said it has lost more than 1000 kilometres of copper cable this year, with 9,4 kilometres being stolen within the last 48 hours.

TRANSNET OVERWHELMED BY CABLE THEFT

Transnet said the theft and destruction of its property has reached unprecedented levels. It now faces more than 600 theft and vandalism incidents monthly.

“In the period January 2021 to October 2021, Transnet Freight Rail has lost over 1000 kilometres of copper cable,” said the company in a statement on Wednesday, 10 November.

The consequences of cable theft often result in tragedy, said the transporter, referring to the incident last week where one of its security staff was ambushed and killed at the Natalspruit Depot in Germiston, Gauteng.

Between 29 October and 10 November, 55 kilometres were stolen, said Transnet. The theft has a direct impact on the revenue of the company and its customers – to date 1190 trains have been cancelled  as a result of security related incidents.

The company said many of the incidents take place on high traffic and high volume corridors. There has been a spike in incidents in the NorthCor – where coal is moved – the CapeCor – manganese – and the Central Corridor, which is a junction that connects all of Transnet’s corridors.

“These lost volumes can never be recouped,” said Transnet. “The incidents range from the theft of copper cable, vandalism of substations which are crucial to the running of our electrified fleet…”

Transnet said the damage suffered amounts to hundreds of millions of rand.

ALSO READ: