Hefty sentence handed to protesters who vandalised critical infrastructure
They damaged traffic lights and road signs and dug up paving in Dawn Park during a protest
The long arm of the law caught up with two men and two women who took part in a protest last year with a sentence of an effective 15 years in prison in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on October 3.
Tshoana Collins Manyathela (Windmill Park), Themba Mbatha (Windmill Park), Thandiwe Tsotetsi (Freeway Park) and Leratho Mashona faced charges of public violence, malicious damage to property and tampering/damaging/destroying of essential infrastructure.
They pleaded not guilty to all three charges on August 1 and were found guilty on September 27.
On March 18 last year, the four were part of a large crowd that blocked a road with stones and burning tyres, damaged traffic lights and road signs and dug up paving in Dawn Park during a protest.
Each of the accused was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment on count one (public violence), three years’ imprisonment on count two (malicious damage to property) and 15 years on count three (tampering with essential infrastructure).
The sentences for count one and two will run concurrently with the sentence for count three.
Magistrate Harichand presided and prosecutor Mbonani represented the State.
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