Three men were sentenced in Kroonstad after they had been arrested at the end of last year for being in the possession of protected plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On 21 September, Shadrack Matambo (43), Leonard Khumalo (53), and Thabani Sibanda (39) were sentenced by the Kroonstad Magistrates\u2019 Court for the theft of cycad plants worth over R2 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zimbabwean Matambo was sentenced to 10 years\u2019 im\u00adprisonment for theft and 3 months for being in South Africa illegally; Khumalo was handed 12 years for theft; and Sibanda will serve 8 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After being confronted about suspicious cargo by a traffic officer at a fuel station along the N1 near Kroonstad on 13 September 2022, the accused escaped. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were arrested in different operations in December and February. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Three men were sentenced in Kroonstad after they had been arrested at the end of last year for being in the possession of protected 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