The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the sentencing of four accused, aged between 31 and 35, by the Thabazimbi Regional Court for tempering with and destroying essential infrastructure.
The four were sentenced on Friday after sentence handed down on Friday, 31 May.
The court heard that on 10 May 2023 at around 23:20pm, the four accused -- Nelson Chama (31), Artwell Chakaraya (31), Blessing Mathongo (35), and Ophius Marindire (32) -- cut off the Transnet Railway line that was connected to Dwaalboom.
This was discovered by a security guard who was patrolling the area. During his patrol, he noticed some suspicious activity when he passed Swartkip crossing. He stopped his vehicle and checked the place, and found that some 500 meters of contact lines (solar copper cables) were cut off and stolen. The total cost was R200 000.
Police were summoned to the scene and opened a case of tampering and destroying essential infrastructure.
Later that day, the suspects were arrested in the Brits policing area after police found them in possession of suspected stolen copper cables. They were arrested and linked to a case of stolen copper cables at Northam policing area.
The case was assigned to Constable Foster Mabeba of Essential Infrastructure Task Team Unit for further investigation.
During the court trial, the accused were denied bail until the Thabazimbi Regional Court sentenced all of them on Friday, 31 May, as follows:
Count 1: Tampering and destroying essential infrastructure - 30 years direct imprisonment.
Count 2: Theft of ferrous or non-ferrous metals - 15 years direct imprisonment.
Count 3: Failure to use port of entry - tow years direct imprisonment.
Count 4: Contravention of Immigration Act: Entering the Republic of South Africa without passports - two years direct imprisonment.
"We appreciate the conviction and sentencing as passed by the court and all the efforts by the arresting team as well the investigating officer," said Hadebe. – SAnews.gov.za
