Pietermaritzburg businessman goes off the rails

Ayliffe was arrested together with his five employees for their alleged participation in the theft of sleeper wood from an abandoned railway line.

Earlier this week, Bruce Ayliffe (44), who is the owner of PMB Metal Products, situated in Langalibalele Street, was arrested together with his five employees for their alleged participation in the theft of sleeper wood from an abandoned railway line that connects Pietermaritzburg and Richmond.

Inside the PMB Metal Products premises were approximately 40 sleeper slabs. This wood is often used to make furniture and is of high value. They are being accused of the theft of wood amounting to around R60 000. Police patrol vehicles that were stationed outside of the premises after the arrest ensured that the slabs were not removed from the store.

Sleepers, steel railway lines, brackets and bolts were removed from the railway line. This abandoned railway was previously used to transport timber as well as livestock and nothing but gravel remains where the track used to run. The site consists of extremely poorly maintained roads and access is to it is difficult.

Transnet, SAPS Crime Intelligence and a private security firm collectively made the arrests. A tip-off from a local farmer warned them to daily activity on the line between 7am and 3pm. “On Monday morning five suspects, excluding Ayliffe, arrived on site and began loading the sleeper wood and this was when we made the arrest,” said a police source. Thobani Buthelezi (25), Sakhile cele (26), Mandla Mshengu (42), Nhlakanipho Zondi (20) and Sisebe Gubesi (23) were linked to PMB Metal Products and this connected Ayliffe to the theft. He was arrested soon after.

Yesterday the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court remanded the men pending a further investigation. Police are very confused regarding the large amounts of missing steel. A source who wished to remain anonymous believes the steel is being exported via the Durban harbour.