MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR DAMAGING ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Limpopo, South Africa – The Lephalale Regional court has sentenced Shatter Mabasa (33) of Rustenburg to 12 years’ imprisonment for tampering, damaging, and destroying essential infrastructure, and 10 years for theft of ferrous or non-ferrous overhead copper cable.
On 18 April 2023, the accused dug a hole from the surface outside the premises of the Swartklip mine. He developed a passage that led to the underground mine. While underground in the mine, he proceeded to cut the overhead electricity cables that provided electricity to the shaft. Thereafter, he stripped the wires and placed them inside the bag. The accused then pretended to be the employee of the mine and went to the bus station situated at the mine with a bag full of copper cable. The security personnel were alerted, apprehended, and he was handed over to the police.
In court, the accused entered into a plea and sentence agreement in terms of the provision of section 105A of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977. The state advocate, George Sekhukhune, negotiated the plea and sentence agreement and considered the seriousness of the offence, hampering economic growth and loss of production by the mine. The offence is viewed in a serious light, and heavier sentences are expected.
The Limpopo Director of Public Prosecution, Adv. Ivy Thenga welcomed the sentence and commended the work of the prosecutor and the investigating team. The National Prosecuting Authority is committed to fighting against crimes that affect the livelihood of people and hamper economic growth.
