THREE MOZAMBICAN NATIONALS SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR DAMAGING ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
The Ermelo Magistrates’ Court convicted and sentenced three Mozambican Nationals to 15 years of direct imprisonment for damaging Transnet essential infrastructure in June 2021. The three men were found guilty of destroying essential infrastructure, theft, and contravention of the Immigration Act. In June 2021, the four accused Alex Thabela 36, Titos Soyane (26), Thomas Mkhaba (29), and Zakes Mashaba (28) went to the Transnet Websrust railway line near Davel driving in their vehicle. When they arrived, they dug up and cut the signal cable providing electricity to the railway.
The security officers got a tip-off informing them that there are four people at the Websrust line busy digging up cable and acted on that information. They found the accused in a motor vehicle and searched it. They found 50m of Transnet signal cable, a spade, pick angle, pliers, and a hack saw. They were subsequently arrested. After the trial, one of the accused Thabela absconded after he was granted bail and a warrant of arrest was issued.
In court, the accused pleaded guilty to a contravention of the immigration act and denied their involvement in charges related to damaging infrastructure. State Prosecutor Chanè Rothman led evidence of several witnesses including the evidence of the security officers who found the accused in the vehicle loaded with stolen goods. Another witness testified and told the court that due to previous incidents of theft of cable.
Transnet suffered a huge loss financially because trains had to be canceled because of the damage to the infrastructure. Their evidence was supported by the testimony of the arresting officer who testified from what he observed when arresting the accused. Magistrate Eben Jonker found the accused guilty as charged, he said these types of offences affect the economy and are prevalent in the district of Ermelo. He sentenced all accused to 15 years of direct imprisonment each.
The National Prosecuting Authority is pleased with the sentence and hopes that it will deter future offenders. We commend the good work done by the prosecution and the police.
