In one of the largest recoveries in its 55-year history, local towing company Van Wettens successfully cleared the main railway line between Ressano Garcia in Mozambique and Komatipoort following a collision on November 15.
 
The incident involved a Transnet train, operated by a crew from Mozambique Ports and Railways (CFM), which collided with a shunting CFM train near the Lebombo Border. The crash caused significant track damage and blocked the line, disrupting rail traffic between South Africa and Mozambique. According to Transnet, the train carrying magnetite had departed from Komatipoort en-route to Ressano Garcia when the collision occurred. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.
 
Van Wettens’s Morné de Wet explained that the company was called in by iZusa Carriers on November 18 to assist with the recovery. A dedicated crew was mobilized and on-site by November 28, bringing four specialised heavy-duty wreckers and all eight of the company’s winches to tackle the task.
 
“The operation took three days in total,” said De Wet. “Four locomotives were involved. On the first day, we secured the trains. On the second day, we recovered one locomotive, and on the third day, we simultaneously recovered the second and third locomotives. Two of our trucks operated from the Mozambican border and two from the South African side, allowing us to work efficiently and complete our part of the recovery by Wednesday afternoon.”
 
Once the locomotives were cleared, Transnet crews began repairing the tracks so the trains could be returned to service. De Wet noted that while the line is now operational, some minor repairs are still ongoing.
 
Adding an unusual challenge to the recovery, an elephant was spotted near the crash site, and crews took great care to ensure the wildlife was not disturbed during the operation.
 
This successful recovery highlights Van Wettens’s expertise in large-scale railway and heavy equipment operations, demonstrating their crucial role in maintaining critical transport infrastructure in the region.