FOUR ACCUSED SENTENCED 12 YEARS INTO JAIL FOR TAMPERING AND DESTROYING OF INFRASTRUCTURE
POLOKWANE: The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the conviction and the sentencing of four accused aged between 19 and 51 by the Thabazimbi Regional Court for tempering and destroying of essential infrastructure.
The sentencing was handed down on Tuesday, 28 November 2023.
The Court heared that on 18 April 2023 at around 18h00, the four accused namely; Trust Sithole (19), Alpheus Chauke (21), Arlindo Manyike (41) and Orlando Mukashe (51) went to Siyanda Bakgatla platinum mine, in Northam policing area ,cut copper cables and stole them. The mine Security personnel were alerted to observe after the mine experienced power outages emerging from underground mine.
The four suspects were spotted, and Northam Police were summoned to the scene. Suspects were then arrested, and copper cables recovered.
The case of tampering and destroying essential infrastructure was opened and assigned to Warrant Officer Seraka Temane of Essential Infrastructure Task Team Unit for further investigation.
During the court trial, the accused were denied bail until Thabazimbi Regional Court sentenced all of them as follows:
- Count 1. Tampering and destroying essential infrastructure: 12 years imprisonment.
Count 2: Theft: withdrawn
Count 3: Trespassing: 02 years imprisonment
Count 4: Failure to use port of entry: 3 years imprisonment
Count 5: Contravention of immigration Act: Entering the Republic without passports: Withdrawn.
Sentence on count 03 and 04 will run concurrently with count 01.
“We commend the arresting team and investigating officer for this success, as the issue of tampering with essential infrastructure cuts accross all our the Districts,” said Lieutenant General Hadebe.
