BLOEMFONTEIN – Seven Zimbabwean nationals have each been sentenced to 10 years in prison for stealing copper cables and damaging essential infrastructure belonging to Eskom.
The seven men – Tatenda Mutanda (29), Simon Sithole (36), Phillip Chatenhedza (35), Prosper Chiwanda (32), Tiwashe Miziri (40), Themba Dube (39) and Kamokeni Chikuse (43) – were handed down sentences in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 20 August.
Mutanda, Chatenhedza, Chiwanda, Dube and Chikuse were each sentenced to additional 12 months in prison for being in South Africa illegally.
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Tracking the load
The case dates back to 20 November 2022, when members of the Bloemfontein Flying Squad intercepted the suspects on the N6 highway. Police had received information about a group travelling from the Eastern Cape towards Bloemfontein in two vehicles, a truck and a Volkswagen Polo.
During a search of the truck, police discovered copper with an estimated value of more than
R100 000.
A damaged transformer, with the cost of the damage estimated at about R2,5 million, was also recovered.
Ongoing efforts
According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli, the arrests followed information received by police about the suspects’ movements.
The men were subsequently prosecuted for theft and damage to material forming part of essential infrastructure.
Their convictions and lengthy prison sentences come amid ongoing efforts by law-enforcement agencies to crack down on copper cable theft and attacks on critical infrastructure, which continue to disrupt electricity supplies and place a heavy financial burden on Eskom.
