She stated that the crime is happening nationwide, particularly along routes used by freight vehicles heading to the country’s borders and ports.
“Truck drivers often sell diesel, without the owners’ knowledge, to roadside traders. Small quantities of diesel of between 20ℓ and 40ℓ are stolen per transaction, making it difficult for owners to trace the losses later. The economic impact thereof is enormous. Not only the businesses suffer significant losses, but the state also forfeits valuable tax revenue,” she explained in a statement.
Helm said it was alarming that the South African Police Service (SAPS), Petroleum SA, and SARS ostensibly paid little or no attention to these illegal activities.
She called on members of the pubic to report incidences of suspected diesel theft to the SAPS. She also called on the business sector and farmers to remain vigilant and be on the lookout for signs of suspicious activity on their premises and farms.
According to Helm, strict control measures, including the use of seals, specialised valves, and advanced tracking systems could help curb the illegal trade.
“On-farm diesel theft is widespread. In many cases, the diesel is syphoned from vehicles and equipment such as tractors and combine harvesters, at great cost to farmers, by pushing up input costs even more. In the crop production areas of the country, it also often happens that diesel is drained from diesel storage tanks. Although relatively small amounts are usually stolen in this way, the cumulative effect is massive,” she told Farmer’s Weekly.
According to her, the theft of diesel undermines the economy and places additional financial strain on legitimate businesses.
“This issue cannot be ignored any longer; the economic consequences are simply too severe. It is time for the authorities to put a concerted effort in place to root out the crime,” she added.
