• Five people appeared in court for allegedly siphoning oil out of a Transnet fuel pipeline. 
• They were arrested after a drop in pressure on the line in the Zamdela area was detected. 
• Security guards and the Hawks arrested the five at the scene.

Five people appeared in the Sasolburg Magistrate's Court on Monday for allegedly siphoning oil out of a Transnet fuel pipeline. 

Norman Tsvito, 44, Cliff Sheriff Mtantho, 33, Beckham Mtantho, 24, Lloyd Joseph Mjogo 51 and George Kathumba, 52, face allegations of  tampering with essential infrastructure and theft of oil from a Transnet fuel pipeline.   

Warrant Officer Lynda Steyn said the group, of Malawian origin, was arrested on Saturday after Transnet got a pressure drop alert from the pipeline near Taaibos Farm district in Zamdela, Sasolburg. 

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When the guards and Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation responded, they found two trucks, with trailers, at the scene. 

The five were allegedly extracting oil from the underground valve.

The trucks, two generators and eight cell phones were seized at the scene.

The five will remain in custody, and the case was postponed to 12 August for a formal bail application.