A late-night coal heist straight out of a crime thriller has landed two truck drivers behind bars after a brazen armed robbery at a mining operation near Kriel in Mpumalanga.
According to South African Police Service (SAPS), the incident unfolded on Thursday night, 05 February 2026, at around 23:00 in the Nkangala District. Mine employees going about their normal shift were suddenly ambushed by a group of seven armed suspects who approached from different directions, guns drawn and clearly well-coordinated.
The workers were overpowered, tied up with cable ties, and forced into a guardroom where they were ordered to lie flat on the floor.
Moments later multiple trucks rolled into the premises. Investigators believe these trucks were used to load coal illegally while the suspects kept workers restrained.
Early investigations revealed that no fewer than 14 trucks entered the mine during the operation. Ten of those trucks managed to make a clean getaway, hauling off coal estimated to be worth around R480 000.
The heist might have gone completely sideways for authorities if not for a sharp-eyed employee in another section of the mine. Sensing something was off, the worker alerted the mine owner, who immediately contacted a private security company.
Their rapid response paid off. Four trucks were intercepted at the scene, and two truck drivers were arrested and handed over to SAPS Kriel.
The recovered trucks remain parked at the mine due to a lack of suitable storage facilities.
Meanwhile, members of the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit followed digital leads from a suspect’s cellphone, resulting in two additional truck owners being detained for further questioning.
The arrested suspects face charges of business robbery and theft and are expected to appear in court on Monday, 09 February 2026. Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are not ruled out.
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