The Hawks spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, said the men aged between 27 and 56 were arrested on Friday, during a disruptive operation after police received information that the suspects were busy stealing railway lines in Morgenzon.
“On arrival at the identified area, five suspects were found loading railway lines onto two trucks, a tractor, a front loader and a bakkie. The tracks are estimated at about R1.5 million,” Sekgotodi said.
Sekgotodi said the men were expected to appear in the Morgenzon Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, on charges of damaging infrastructure, theft and possession of stolen property.
