Ntsokolo Motoale aged 32 arrested in the Bloemfontein CBD was sentenced by the Bloemfontein Regional Court to 15 years direct imprisonment on the 09 June 2023 for tampering with infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen property.

On 19 November 2022 at about 00:30 Parkweg South African Police Service members were on patrol in the CBD when they saw a man carrying a heavy bag and freshly cut wires.

Members stopped the accused and discovered that he had suspected copper cables in his possession worth an estimated amount of R11 000-00 and were confirmed to be stolen from the Transnet train yard.

The 32-year-old was arrested for possession of suspected stolen property and tampering with infrastructure.

Investigations were carried over by Parkweg Detective Warrant officer GP Nel who made a discovery that the railway company suffered a loss worth R1 million per day after the damage and tampering of its infrastructure.

Source: South African Police Service