14 YEARS FOR TAMPERING WITH ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
The Kimberley Regional Court has sentenced David Van Wyk (21), to 14 years and 6 months of direct imprisonment after he was convicted of tampering with essential infrastructure. The sentencing of Van Wyk emanates from an incident on 02 March 2024 when the accused was apprehended while busy cutting earth cable from the Transnet Rail Lines with an estimated value of R2200. The accused was arrested and charged with tampering with essential infrastructure. As a sign of the seriousness of how the prosecution views these types of crimes, the accused bail application was successfully opposed, and he was remanded in custody until the conclusion of his case.
In aggravation of sentence, Regional Court Prosecutor Dineo Mathule highlighted the prevalence of the offence as well as the fact that this is now a national problem that has become so serious that legislation was enacted to allow it to fall within the ambit of the minimum legislation. The prosecutor further argued the importance of the courts to sentence perpetrators of such crimes to appropriate sentences which will send a clear message to other transgressors, that the government is serious about fighting essential infrastructure-related crimes. In sentencing, the court found that there were substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, and the accused was sentenced to 14 years and 06 months of direct imprisonment.
These cases affect service delivery and deprive the community of basic services hence the NPA will adopt a focused approach that ensures that after conviction harsher sentences are imposed.
