The Bethulie Regional Court has cracked the whip on a man found guilty of copper theft, sentencing him to 30 years’ direct imprisonment without option. The sentencing of the accused Thabang Andries Mkhaulezi (32) on 27 October was a result of probing by the police in Bethulie.
Sgt Mahlomola Kareli, spokesperson for the provincial police, said copper cables had been positively identified as the property belonging to Centlec.
The cables were stolen from a truck on 20 September last year, during the night. Kareli said Mkhaulezi, also known as Papa, was found guilty on charges of theft and damage to infrastructure.
The investigation revealed that the accused had stolen a 5 m-long copper cable from a private residency, and another 5 m-long copper cable from a Centlec truck. Kareli said Mkhaulezi received 15 years each on both counts, thus he will serve 30 years in prison.
In May of last year, the same court also imposed a 30-year sentence on three Zimbabweans: Patrick Chirambandare (34), Washington Khoza (32) and Cliff Hove (28). They were found guilty of damaging a cell tower close to the N1 in Springfontein and stealing batteries worth R78 000.
The hefty sentences followed a request by the state prosecutor, Leon Ehlers, who highlighted the negative impact that damaged infrastructure has on South Africans.
