Cable theft from Spoornet is stopping a daily average of eight trains at a cost of R1.6-million a day, spokesperson Molatwane Likhethe said on Wednesday.

"The theft of overhead cables on the rail lines has reached unprecedented levels," he said, noting that cable theft on Wednesday had stopped trains from Johannesburg to three destinations.

"Cable theft early this morning seriously disrupted Spoornet's traffic flow between Johannesburg and Durban, Vaal and Limpopo," he said.

"The commodities affected varied from cement, coal, iron ore, cars to container traffic and passenger trains."

Likhethe said the direct cost to Spoornet of R1.6-million a day and the consequential losses due to knock-on effects "runs into millions more".

"This hurts not only Spoornet and its customers but South Africa as a whole. When consignments fail to reach their international destinations on time, the country's reputation suffers."

Likhethe said the delays made the overseas market "view us as unreliable and inefficient. They could switch to other suppliers".

He pointed out that cable theft led also to human disaster and tragedy.

"Several passengers lost their lives in the train derailment at Maryvale and the recent burning of passenger coaches," he said. "These were all the result of cable theft."

The destruction of Spoornet assets also cost the parastatal millions of rands in replacements and repairs.

"Spoornet is faced with the challenge of having to secure some 30 000km of rail track with limited security resources."

However, hot spots had been identified, members of criminal syndicates arrested and innovative technology applied.

"Spoornet is replacing the overhead copper wire cables with tiger wire which does not have a high resale value."

He said Spoornet was being "engulfed by criminals, but we do not know where their market is".

Rewards of up to R25 000 would be paid to people who provided information which led to the arrest and conviction of people who destroyed Spoornet property or who provided leads to the recovery of it.

The telephone number to call was 0800-117-997, he said.

Sapa

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