THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR TEMPERING WITH ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEFT

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR TEMPERING WITH ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEFT

GAUTENG – A 46-year-old Zimbabwean National, Shady Mhlanga, who also went by alias Thobane
Skhosana has been sentenced to thirty-five years imprisonment by the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 27 August 2024.

He was found guilty as charged on three counts. Count 1: tempering with essential infrastructure sentenced 20 (twenty) years. Count 2; theft of petrol from the Transnet pipeline sentenced 10 (ten) years. Count 3; theft of suspected stolen tanker 5 (five) years. The court has, however, ordered that counts 2 and 3 run concurrently with count 1.

Mhlanga was arrested on the morning of Saturday, 31 December 2022. This was after Bidvest security officials responded to a suspicious activity in Watloo, Pretoria, along the fuel pipeline. He attempted to evade being captured, but his efforts were in vain after he was found hiding in the bushes.

The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation linked him to three similar cases at the Boschkop, Putfontein, and Silverton policing precincts in a space of four months that same year.

The damage to the essential infrastructure was estimated at R500 000, whilst the stolen fuel was approximately R800 000. The stolen truck is estimated to be valued at R800 000. The court also considered the value of rehabilitation of the contaminated land and repairs to the Transnet pipeline, which cost a cumulative R35.2 million.

His numerous bail bids were successfully opposed by the investigation team, and he has been in prison since he was arrested.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng Major General Ebrahim Kadwa has lauded the investigators for the successful prosecution of the accused. ” Let this serve as a warning to those who have a criminal propensity to plunder the resources, especially the essential infrastructure of this country for selfish reasons. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, in collaboration with our partners, will ensure that there is nowhere to hide for them.” Major General Kadwa concluded.