ZIMBABWEAN NATIONAL SENTENCED FOR THEFT OF TRANSNET OIL

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By: Neo Ntsele

The Vrede Regional Court on Monday, 17, sentenced Zimbabwean Shepard Vareni (38) to seven years of direct imprisonment for damaging essential infrastructure, another seven years for stealing crude oil, and imposed a R5,000 fine or three months in prison for violating the Immigration Act.

He was also deemed unfit to possess a firearm.

The sentencing follows an incident on 25 September 2023, when security personnel were alerted to ongoing crude oil theft at a farm near Memel.

With the help of local police, the security officers pursued and apprehended two suspects, recovering two vehicles.

It was discovered that the suspects had tampered with a Transnet pipeline and stolen crude oil.

Vareni remained in custody until his sentencing on 17 November 2025.

The trial for his co-accused and fellow countryman, Felix Magatu (43), is scheduled for 19 and 20 January 2026 in the Vrede Regional Court.

Major General Mokgadi Bokaba, head of the Free State Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), has welcomed the sentence and praised the investigating officer's excellent work.