Two Zimbabweans nationals were arrested in South Africa for allegedly stealing fuel worth R3million at a Transnet station in Warden, the Free State Province.
The duo, Owen Muterede (38) and Huggins Nyamutamba (43), were denied bail at the Warden Magistrate court and their trial has been postponed to March 24.
They have been in remand prison since their arrest on December 29, 2019, and could not appear in court as the prosecution failed to get a Shona interpreter.
Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Lynda Steyn told reporters on Sunday that the Zimbabwean nationals were denied bail and further remanded in custody. She said:
Both accused persons have been denied bail and the case has been postponed further until the 24th of March 2020. They are in custody.
According to Warrant Officer Steyn, Muterede and Nyamutamba had loaded the fuel in four tankers and were arrested while transporting the fuel to Gauteng following a tip-off.
They were accosted near a farm in Presentkraal Street and seized pending further investigations.