A KwaZulu-Natal truck driver has been jailed for an effective 12 years after he pleaded guilty to theft of chrome that was meant to be exported. Dumezweni Dlamini, 37, was sentenced in the Richards Bay Regional Court this week.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Dlamini pleaded guilty to theft of chrome as well as possessing a radio jamming device.
Dlamini worked as a truck driver for the complainant, Nashee Singh.
Explaining the case, NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said Dlamini was transporting a load of chrome, valued at approximately R250,000, from Mpumalanga to the Richards Bay Port for export purposes on April 8, 2024.
The truck he was driving – a horse and trailer side tipper – was fitted with a tracking device.
Upon arriving at the port, Dlamini met his co-accused, Mlungisi Nxumalo, 40, who allegedly offered him R15,000 for the load.
Dlamini then exited the port without offloading the chrome.
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The men used a radio jamming device to disarm the tracker signal, effectively preventing Singh from tracking the truck’s location.
The truck was then driven to an unauthorised site in the nearby Enseleni area.
According to the NPA, officers from the Vulumgodi National Task Team were on the lookout for the truck.
They traced it to Enseleni and discovered it shortly after the chrome had been offloaded.
Both Dlamini and Nxumalo were arrested at the scene.
While Dlamini chose to plead guilty, Nxumalo pleaded not guilty, and their trials were separated.
Nxumalo is scheduled to return to court on November 22, 2024.
In aggravation of sentencing, State advocate Mandlenkosi Mtukushe highlighted the significant impact of illicit trade in minerals like chrome on South Africa’s economy, explaining that such crimes contribute to the grey-listing of South Africa by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
These economic crimes deter investment, ultimately impacting the country’s fiscus, said Ramkisson-Kara.
Dlamini was sentenced to 12 years for theft of chrome and an additional two years for possession of the radio jamming device.
Both sentences are to run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 12 years.
He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The NPA welcomed the sentence, noting that crimes of this nature are becoming more prevalent, affecting both the local economy and global perceptions of South Africa’s handling of mineral exports.
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