Two accused were sentenced by Bloemfontein Regional Court for damage to essential infrastructure.

On 03 August 2022, security guards on duty at a railway station were alerted by noises and upon closer inspection the guards found the suspects in the act of removing copper cables.

The suspects attempted to flee however, swift action by security resulted in their apprehension. Navalsig police station were called to the scene and the two were arrested. Preliminary investigation discovered that four meter long copper cable, worth an estimated R24 300, was removed from Transnet infrastructure.

The case was handed over to Sergeant Nomahlubi Letshabo of Navalsig Police Station who through working together with Prosecutor Mr Shane Lewis from Bloemfontein Regional Court secured a convincing sentence for the two suspects aged 33 and 30.

The two accused were sentenced as follows:

1. Lebona Makhalemele (33) was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for damage to essential infrastructure

2. Tshokolo John Hlalele
(30) was sentenced to 18 years’ for damage to essential infrastructure.

The accused’s actions have resulted in the Railway Company loosing R1.1 million in damages to repair the line.

Source: South African Police Service